Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers

PreS-Gr 1—Nicholas Duck, star of Santa Duck (Putnam, 2008), is excited at the prospect of his second Christmas collecting wish lists for Santa. Unfortunately, his three enthusiastic siblings want to help. When they keep promising increasingly fabulous and unreasonable presents, Nicholas irritably explains that Christmas is not just about gifts, but also about love and kindness and goodwill. The little ducks ask if that means letting little siblings "help Santa even if you think you're some kind of important big shot?" Er—yes, it does, and it turns out to be a fine Christmas after all. Both younger and older siblings will delight in the simple, goofy humor and appealing cartoon illustrations of Nicholas and his brothers and sister, the youngest a yellow duckling in a diaper. Put this title at the top of your Christmas list.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library