How to Catch Santa

September 14, 2015
In this continuation of Reagan and Wildish’s tongue-in-cheek series of “how to” books, an unseen narrator presents an array of ideas for catching Santa, detaining him long enough to answer questions about how the reindeer fly or how he fits down chimneys. “Be crafty! Be clever! Be gentle,” writes Reagan, dismissing ideas like lassoing Santa like a steer for ones like leaving him a note filled with glitter, so that he’ll leave a trail. Wildish’s illustrations embrace the comedy of the narrator’s suggestions; in a departure from the brightly colored palette of most of the scenes, he offers a quiet view of snowy suburban rooftops by night, as the narrator instructs readers to listen for “Santa sounds” like “Santa doing stretches on your neighbor’s roof.” Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, Bright Agency.

September 1, 2015
The creators of the bestselling How to Babysit a Grandpa (2012) and How to Babysit a Grandma (2014) continue their series with this story about a brother and sister who want to capture Santa on his annual visit to their home. The children discuss improbable ideas for spotting or catching Santa, including a complicated sequence with notes to lure Santa up to their bedroom. They wait up for Santa, and a nighttime view of Santa and the reindeer on the neighborhood's roofs makes his arrival seem imminent. Then, in a disappointing conclusion, the children fall asleep with no sign of Santa's arrival. In the morning it's clear Santa has been there, as the presents are under the tree and the cookies and carrots have been eaten. There is a trail of red glitter leading to the chimney from the letter the kids sent to Santa, but that's the only surprise this story has to offer. Readers might be expecting some sort of exciting trap for Santa or some clever way the children get to meet him or ride in his sleigh. No...just a sprinkle of red glitter. Digitally produced illustration are bright and cheery, with cute kids and amusing details, but sharp-eyed readers will notice the decorated Christmas tree in the living room is inexplicably placed in four different locations on different pages. Maybe these kids should try babysitting Santa. (Picture book. 4-7)

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October 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-From the team behind How to Babysit a Grandpa (2012) comes this similar guide with a glitterized cover. It's packed with tongue-in-cheek advice on how to catch Santa and then what to do with him. You can't keep him long-he's busy! Questions to ask and things to tell him must be thought of in advance. Techniques for his capture will require some effort, as illustrated by several humorous scenarios. Don't be too disappointed if you don't catch him-there's always next year! VERDICT Clever, chuckle-worthy fare in a nonreligious context.-Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
You know you'd like some face time with Santa to ask your burning questions and maybe slip the poor guy a nose warmer. But how will you catch him? Reagan and Wildish's (How to Babysit a Grandpa) latest how-to guide warns would-be Santa-snatchers not to get too crazy: no lassoing, for instance. Instead, listen for sleigh bells, lure him with cookies and riddles, and leave out carrots for Rudolph. Letters to Santa on the endpapers fit right in with digital illustrations that look almost hand-drawn, creating a sense that it's all up to the kidseven if alert readers notice the parents winking in the background. shoshana flax

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)