­Merry ­Christmas, Dear Mars

K-Gr 3–This rhyming holiday picture book retells Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as set on Mars. The unnamed and ungendered storyteller wonders if Santa will finally visit Mars this year, while all around fellow Martians prepare for Christmas. When they hear a roar and see the approaching reindeer, it seems like a dream come true, until the sleigh starts to malfunction and Santa falls out of the sky. Will the Martians be able to help Santa and ensure he visits their planet again next year? Klostermann takes a traditional poem and cleverly reimagines it in outer space, including elements such as an “Outer Space Rescue Division,” whose members have names like Kelvin and Quasar, and a sleigh with a cocoa dispenser. The prose is easy to follow, and each line is crammed with strong, descriptive language. Lourenço spares no expense with the richly colored digital art. The illustrations are packed with details, including a book on the living room floor titled How to be Good All Year and signs welcoming Santa in the background. Humor and fun radiate from this quirky and engaging retelling that children will enjoy at story hours or on their own.