School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The woodland denizens of a northern Canadian forest can't wait for Christmas, because that's when their Santa secretly leaves gifts (heart-shaped stones, bells, acorns, and the like) for everyone. Big Snowshoe the rabbit is absolutely convinced of Santa's existence; Little Snow, his younger brother, is a bit more skeptical, and nothing Big Snowshoe or the other animals say as they decorate a Christmas tree make him feel any differently. Side panels on each page show lemming elves creating the various gifts. A minor accident on the frozen stream gives Big Snowshoe the idea to hang ice crystals on twigs, and the sound they make alerts everyone to the appearance of Santa, who is a snowy owl. As usual, Brett's illustrations are the highlight-lush and magical, filled with whimsical details that will reward repeated viewings. The story itself is adequate (though the twist in which the predator delivers gifts to his normal prey is ingenious) and could play a part in a nonreligious holiday program.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
As she did in 1996's The Mitten, Brett evokes a wintry landscape filled with animals, distinguished by her signature level of meticulous detail. On his first Christmas Eve, Little Snow, a rabbit in a North Canadian forest, voices skepticism about the existence of the "animals' Santa." After all, no other animals have seen him or spotted his tracks in the snow. Even Little Snow's friends' descriptions of gifts Santa has left for them don't persuade Little Snow, who complains, "I think you are fooling me." As the animals speculate on Santa's identity, lemming "elves" are busy in sidebar panels, making birch bark drums, pinecone animals, and other gifts. Native American artwork created with porcupine quills inspired the distinctive patterns that frame these border scenes. The dramatic arrival of Santa-an exquisite snowy owl-is well worth the wait. Ages 3-5. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.