Merry Christmas, Little Elliot

PreS-Gr 1—Little Elliot, a polka-dotted elephant, can't relax and enjoy the holidays. His buddy Mouse hopes for a toy train for Christmas, but earnest Little Elliot just wants the Christmas spirit. The department store Santa tells him that he must find that himself, so the pint-size pachyderm and his pal participate in a host of holiday activities. Nothing works until Little Elliot discovers a missive intended for Santa that's gone astray. Elliot and Mouse decide to make the letter writer's Christmas wishes a reality, delivering what she asked for: good friends. Little Elliot is a gentle soul who's often overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of New York City, and this quiet adventure will resonate with thoughtful, sensitive readers. As in previous installments, Curato revels in the vintage Manhattan setting, with lavish paintings of the tree at Rockefeller Center, a sled ride in Central Park, and a production of The Nutcracker. His stiff, waxy depictions of people aren't nearly as successful, but Mouse and Little Elliot are so adorable that readers may not even notice.