I Am Not Santa Claus!

PreS-Gr 2--He looks like Santa Claus, dresses like Santa Claus, acts like Santa Claus, but is it really him? A jolly old man with a fluffy white beard and a red-and-white suit steps out of a department store around Christmas time, so it's only natural to assume it's Santa. When asked, however, he insists that he's not, despite the fact that he lives on North Pole Lane, has a bunch of deer in his yard, and runs a "hand-crafted trinkets" business that employs a lot of small people who look suspiciously like elves. This is a fun take on the "Is Santa real?" dilemma, with questions posed by an unseen narrator, while the mystery man, always shown face-front as if he is talking directly to the reader, answers in green dialogue bubbles. Boldly colored cartoonlike illustrations are the perfect complement to the simple text. Younger children who still believe will be glad to see the is-he-isn't-he Santa Claus take off with his sleigh and reindeer on the very last page, while older children will enjoy the inside jokes. Mr. and Mrs. Claus are white, other minor characters and elves are depicted with a variety of skin tones. VERDICT A fun addition to any winter holiday collection.--Sue Morgan

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A genuinely jolly Christmas choice.