Little Santa

PreS-Gr 2—Every year, a boy spends Christmas Eve alone because his father, Santa, is busy delivering presents. This year, the child makes a wish to spend Christmas Eve with his dad. When Santa injures his foot and is unable to deliver presents, his son volunteers to take on his father's job. The magnitude of his task is captured by how loosely Santa's uniform hangs on his son's small frame. Young ones will delight in Little Santa's first sleigh ride and marvel at a spread showing him steadfastly delivering presents to homes around town. Finally, the reindeer stop at a "small, shabby house—even though there were no more presents left." Inside Little Santa finds a letter from Sara, a dancer, asking for snow on Christmas. Little Santa is downhearted until dad suddenly arrives with North Pole snow. On the way home, father and son discuss the two meanings of the word gift; a present, or better yet, a talent that lasts a lifetime (though a bit didactic, Santa's point is well taken). The illustrations are softly textured, rendered in the understated colors of a Scandinavian winter.