HO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS FOR ME

Who knew pirates started the tradition of delivering Christmas gifts?

Our tale begins long ago. Nic and Kris, the young Beard twins, sail their pirate ship. Dark-haired, brown-skinned Nic loves stealing and brawling; blond-haired, tan-skinned, kindhearted Kris prefers carving toys. One day, Kris finds a necklace that’s washed up. Determined to have it for himself, Nic snatches the necklace and forces Kris onto the plank. Kris falls overboard, eventually drifting to an icy land, where an elf welcomes him. All the elves who live here have broken sleighs. Kris repairs them and teaches the elves to make toys. Kris happily remains on Elf Island for many years, carving toys and caring for reindeer. Both brothers, still far apart, grow older. At last, sad, friendless Nic, his hair now white, decides to search for his long-lost twin. The brothers reunite, and Nic apologizes. Kris suggests they “sail the skies” together in the pirate ship—hauled by reindeer—and deliver toys the night before what “we now call Christmas.” The author adds, “The brothers Beard have many names, / like Kris Kringle and Saint Nic,” and challenges readers to guess which brother they’ve seen. This offbeat, thinly plotted origin story, told in bouncy though occasionally clumsy verse, may leave readers cold, especially those less familiar with the name Kris Kringle. The colorful illustrations are lively but otherwise undistinguished. Still, die-hard pirate fans will likely be pleased. The book includes a QR code that accesses an audio version.

A so-so-yo-ho Christmas offering.