Father Christmas and Me

Gr 4–6—This third entry in the trilogy picks up right where The Girl Who Saved Christmas left off. Amelia is now living in Elfhelm with Father Christmas and Mary, who will soon marry Father Christmas. Amelia loves them and is very grateful that they chose to adopt her, but feels like she doesn't fit in. She wants to, and she tries; but all her attempts end in disaster, most notably the crash of a brand-new sleigh. This does not endear her to the elves, many of whom are distrustful of humans. The banished Father Vodol takes advantage of this and sets a plot in motion to rid Elfhelm of Father Christmas forever. Amelia's first-person narration fills readers in on highlights from the previous books, allowing this entry to stand alone. She's an endearing girl wanting to find a place in the world and be useful. The fast pace, vivid world-building, clever wordplay, and humor will keep readers guessing and turning pages to the riotous conclusion. The plentiful pen-and-ink illustrations assist readers in envisioning this wintry world. The many sight-gags are good for added chuckles.