Pink Santa by Tanya Hennessy. Illus. by Ben Whitehouse

In rhyming stanzas the text takes us into Santa’s workshop the night before Christmas. All is seemingly ready for take off: the gifts are wrapped and the cookies baked, but Santa remembers that he has not washed his suit since last Christmas. It is still in the hamper. Rudolph throws it into the washing machine along with his red socks and when he comes to retrieve them, he finds that Santa’s suit is now a very bright pink. The elves suggest painting it red, or covering it with red tinsel, while Mrs Claus says it is time to think.

While they all try to think of a solution, Santa comes into the room. They all shrink from telling him but he is not fazed at all, instead saying that this year he will be a Pink Santa, after all pink is for girls and boys, elves and toys, Rudolph and tree. So pink is for Christmas and off they go taking the presents to all the nice girls and boys, Santa resplendent in his pink suit, while everything else has been turned pink as well. Readers will love looking at all the trappings of Christmas, presents, the tree, elves, a sleigh, reindeers, tinsel, lights and so on, all decked out in pink, a change from dreary red and green.

The vibrant illustrations match the mood of the story as it unfolds, showing the mistake made by Rudolph and how Santa uses it to make a better Christmas for all the eager recipients of the presents.

The rhyming lines call out for prediction as younger readers will offer suggestions about the last word of each line, and follow the reindeer as they cavort across the pages. Lots of detail will enthral them, and recognising the things we all hold dear at Christmas will reinforce the day for younger readers, as well as introduce a celebration to those new to the idea of Christmas.

Apart from Christmas readers will be aware of the pink explosion as the Barbie film has everything pink, and will be the order of the day for many children to go and see and talk about at length. A pink Santa is well timed.

Themes: Christmas, Celebrations, Rudolph, Pink.

Fran Knight