Santa's Secrets Revealed

September 27, 2004
You can't keep a good legend down—at least when it comes to Santa. A young skeptic named Stevie joins the ranks of Virginia and others who have questioned Old Saint Nick's existence. With confidence and a tongue-in-cheek flair, Solheim (It's Disgusting—and We Ate It!
) delivers some answers—mostly scientific, of course—that dispel Stevie's doubts. Gott's (the Horace Splattley series) spiffy computer-generated pieces contain oodles of humorous touches. Ages 5-8.

October 1, 2004
Gr 1-3-When a cynical boy named Stevie appears on national television denouncing that Santa is a fake, he is swooped up by the jolly old gent and given a grand tour of his operations, including Santa Industries (headquartered in Cleveland), where they "track worldwide naughtiness," and the North Pole. After witnessing the high-tech tools that allow Santa to shrink and to travel backward and forward in time, Stevie finally can't help but believe what his eyes tell him. Even more amazing is when Santa demonstrates true magic by knowing (without being told) exactly what the eight-year-old has been hoping for. Kids who have grown out of warm-and-fuzzy Christmas books will enjoy this wisecracking approach to the holiday. The cartoon artwork is loaded with funny, if not hugely imaginative, details.-E. M.

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.