Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers

Starred review from October 18, 2010
In his second outing as Santa's helper, Nicholas Duck prepares to collect Christmas lists, but his needling younger brothers and sister want in on the action. When various animals make their Christmas requests, his siblings try to one-up each other. "I'll get you a beautiful princess," quacks his sister to a frog; "I'll get you your own planet!" boasts a brother. Finally, Nicholas reminds them that Christmas is about "love and goodwill," but quickly has to eat his words. With humor aplenty and a knack for sibling dynamics, Milgrim offers a holiday story with panache. Ages 5–8.

September 1, 2010

In this comical sequel to Santa Duck (2008), Nicholas Duck is back with his Santa suit so he can be Santa Duck again this year, taking Christmas gift requests from the other animals to pass along to the real Santa. But this year, his little brothers and sister want to be Santa's helpers too, and Santa Duck doesn't want to share. As each animal gives Santa Duck a gift request, the sibling ducks up the ante, each topping the other with outrageous (and hilarious) gift suggestions. Santa Duck explains that Christmas is really about sharing—but his siblings point out that sharing also applies to big brothers. A multifaceted plot and some succinct lessons are skillfully conveyed in just a few pages, with the funny dialogue contained in speech balloons within the holiday-bright, cartoon-style illustrations. Jingle quack! (Picture book. 3-7)

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Starred review from October 1, 2010

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

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2010
Preschool-G Nicolas Duck, the reluctant Santa in Milgrims Santa Duck (2008), has embraced being Santas helper and is now joined by his enthusiastic but pesky siblings. Although Nicolas is unsuccessful in dissuading his helpers, he does curb their offerings of outrageous gifts to the other animals when trying to outdo each other. Along the way, they all learn that Christmas means more than gifts, popcorn balls, and cookies (cue the messages of love, goodwill, and giving) in this goofy and sweet holiday story. The upbeat ending, with Nicolas and his siblings in harmony, and the colorful cartoon illustrations will make this a crowd-pleaser.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)