Book Review: 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!' by Mo Willems

✰✰✰✰½ Pigeon is back, and it wants to drive Santa’s sleigh. Santa is aware of Pigeon’s reputation and asks you personally to keep an eye on his sleigh. It’s not going to be easy. You see, Pigeon can be sassy, sweet, and very convincing. Can you tell Pigeon no? Or will you give in and let Pigeon drive the sleigh?

The Bottom Line: Besides being a children’s book author, Mo is an animator and voice actor who has won many awards including 3 Caldecott Medals! This is the 9th book in the Pigeon series. The beauty of this picture book is in the simplicity of the illustrations and the sparse words in a large font. Told with humor and good fun, this short tale is highly recommended seasonal reading for beginning readers ages 4 - 7.

Details: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! Words & pictures by Mo Willems. Hardcover picture book published by Unions Square Kids in 2023. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1-4549-5277-0 

Book Review: 'Santa is Coming to Chicago' by Steve Smallman

✰✰✰ After checking to see that all the children in the Chicagoland area have been good and locating all the reindeer, Santa is ready to make deliveries. Unfortunately Santa’s navigation device, Santa-Nav, is malfunctioning in a snowstorm. Will they be able to deliver presents in time? It’s up to the youngest reindeer to figure it out as they visit various Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs.

The Bottom Line: This is part of the Santa is Coming series, which features many localities throughout the United States and even worldwide. These were churned out pretty quickly, but each book includes names of places that readers will be familiar with. It’s fun to see if your town or neighborhood is mentioned, and Dunn’s illustrations highlight local attractions in a rainbow of colors. Festive holiday reading for kids ages 4 - 8.

Details: Santa is Coming to Chicago written by Steve Smallman & illustrated by Robert Dunn. Hardcover picture book published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in 2012. 32 p. ISBN: 978-1-4022-7509-8  

Book Review: 'The Twelve Cats of Christmas' by Feather Flores

✰✰✰✰½ In the vein of The Twelve Days of Christmas, this picture book features twelve cats. Little ones can read with their favorite adult or follow along with the included player because this is a book that talks. Following the easy directions, just turn it on, press play, and read along as twelve cats get into some holiday mischief. From batting bows to shredding paper to helping Santa, these cats know how to have fun. Along the way, little ones will learn to count up to twelve and down again. 

The Bottom Line: Vox Books are great when your child wants to read a favorite book over and over again. The pace was just right for kids to follow along, and you can always pause it or go back a page or two. Colorful and festive illustrations in mixed media added humor to the story. My favorite part was the last four pages where readers have the opportunity to meet the twelve cats and read about their likes and dislikes. This fun holiday treat is recommended for kids just learning to read. 

Details: The Twelve Cats of Christmas (Vox Books Books that Talk!) written by Feather Flores & illustrated by Carrie Liao. Hardcover picture book published by Chronicle Books in 2022. 48 p. ISBN: 978-1-4521-8461-6 

Book Review: 'Elf in the House' by Ammi-Joan Paquette

✰✰✰ When a little girl discovers that there’s only crumbs left for Santa, she decides to investigate. Along the way, others join her until a special visitor arrives. Then it’s time to party because Christmas really is the best time of the year.

The Bottom Line: Both the story and the illustrations seemed very basic and left me looking for something more. The digitally created illustrations lacked detail and the color seemed a bit off; however, the spare style and large print might appeal to little ones ages 2 - 5. 

Details: Elf in the House written by Ammi-Joan Paquette & illustrated by Adam Record. Picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2017. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-8132-6

Book Review: 'Milo's Christmas Parade' by Jennie Palmer

✰✰✰✰ Milo comes from a big family of opossums. They all love the big Christmas parade, but for different reasons. His passel loves it for the buffet of treats people leave behind. Milo loves it for the floats. In fact, his dream is to build his own float and be in the parade.

One year Milo finally decides to take the plunge and build a float. His family doesn’t really understand why Milo is so driven, but they help anyway. When the big day finally arrives, disaster strikes. Although it looks hopeless, a little help from his family and a surprise helper just might save the day.

The Bottom Line: This is a sweet holiday tale of living your dream, believing in yourself, and teamwork. Sometimes we don’t always understand what a loved one is so enthusiastic about, but helping out is what families and friends do. The charming illustrations were rendered in a combination of pencil, ink, watercolor, and digital tools. Fun holiday reading for kids ages 4 - 7.

Details: Milo’s Christmas Parade written & illustrated by Jennie Palmer. Picture book published by Abrams Books for Young Readers in 2020. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1-4197-4499-0

'Christmas in July' Book Reviews 2024

It's been an especially hot, humid and noisy summer so far, and I find myself thinking of cooler weather, hot chocolate, and the holidays. For this July, I'll be reviewing a few sweet Christmas picture books to take my mind of the heat, rain, and cicadas (They're everywhere!). Join me as I dedicate this month to frosty reviews featuring a cute opossum, an elf, cats, Chicago, and more...

Happy Holiday Reading in July! Stay Cool!

P.S. I found this free holiday clip art at CarlsWebGraphics. Thank you, Carl!