A Stickler Christmas
by Lane Smith (Author)
A holiday picture book from award-winning author/illustrator Lane Smith that features the woodland character, Stickler, who wanders the forest delivering Christmas presents. In a picture book that's both silly and sweet, readers will be inspired by this story of holiday kindness.
Happy-go-lucky Stickler, an original character covered in sticks, is celebrating Christmas by passing out presents for all his friends. He has carefully selected the right stick for each of them, including: a Hop-Higher Stick for Rabbit, an Idea Stick for Crow, an In-a-Pear-Tree Stick for Partridge. But Doug-the-Fir doesn't want a present, he is too worried about being covered with decorations and lights and being the center of attention. So, Stickler promises to think of a solution and finds the perfect stick. But in order to help his shy friend, Stickler needs to be the one to shine.
A Stickler Christmas encourages empathy and kindness with a joyful, lighthearted touch. Lane Smith, the award-winning author and illustrator of recent picture books, including A Gift for Nana (where Stickler first appears) and Stickler Loves the World, brings imagination and laughter to a clever story featuring a delightful character.
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School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1--In this follow-up to Stickler Loves the World, Stickler is back in a tender holiday tale about gift giving, friendship, low-stakes sacrifice, and celebration. Stickler, a bundle of sticks with a heart of gold, makes Christmas joyfully weird as it gives gifts--sticks, of course--to friends, including Rabbit, Snowman, Partridge, and Doug-the-Fir. Everyone is in good spirits, except for Doug, who is "not one bit jolly" about being the center of attention as a Christmas tree. Stickler finds a solution to help its friend by donning Doug's decorations and singing "O Stickler Tree," "Jingle Sticks," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Stick," and "Little Drummer Stick," to take the spotlight off of Doug. Smith's mixed-media illustrations begin with a daytime palette that grows in contrast as night arrives with a showstopping reveal of Stickler draped in twinkle lights, garlands of popcorn, and ornaments. Emphasized facial features (googly eyes and squiggly, animated mouths) give characters emotional range, while fluffy snowflakes and winter landscapes wrap the story in seasonal cozy. Dynamic design adds interest to each page as perspectives zoom in and out and text placement moves; a playful font shift to Old English adds pizazz to Stickler's singing of "O Stickler Tree, how lovely are my branches!" VERDICT Amid many holiday book options that retell the same stories, Stickler stands out as a fresh expression of Christmas spirit.--Nora Clancy
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
To quote the strangest little fellow ever to star in its own Christmas picture book: “Joy.”
JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
Picture books
Christmas
Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.)
Christmas fiction
