Yikes, Santa Claws! by Pamela Butchart and Sam Lloyd
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 978408851388
(Age: Preschool) Christmas. Verse. Vibrantly illustrated, this story
of a stand-in Santa Claus will cause a ripple of mirth amongst
younger readers, as they hear of the silly dinosaur and his antics
on Christmas Eve. When he arrives at the stegosaur house, he munches
on the Christmas tree, rips open the presents and tries them all on,
opens all the crackers and eats the Christmas turkey in one gulp.
Even when he goes outside he leaves a trail of poo behind. The
children trot upstairs to tell their mum and together they follow
the mayhem he has caused, asking who will stop him.
The real Santa Claus arrives in the nick of time, and puts things to
rights, causing Santa Claws to feel ashamed. He then tries to redeem
himself by cleaning up the poo, and mending the presents he has
broken. As Santa's helper he has made sure the children enjoy their
special day.
Told in verse, the lines hum along and will be enriched read aloud.
The background will be a neat starting point for discussions about
Christmas and the customs surrounding this event.
Fran Knight