(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jannie Ho. Santa goes undercover in his workshop to find out why his elves are so worn-out. The trouble, he discovers, is their workload. His fix? Stretch out the days and make room for laughter. Norman borrows "The Night Before Christmas" form to mostly good effect, but the meter isn't perfect. Thick glossy pages feature digital illustrations with comical North Pole details.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) PS Illustrated by Jannie Ho. A boy notices all the roadwork, repairs, and beautification efforts going on out his window as his mother drives them to his grandmother's house. The text's rhymes, while bouncy, are nothing special ("People at work / here and there, / Fixing things up / everywhere"). The motion-filled art, busy but under control, features perpetually smiling characters.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jannie Ho. Cheerful Halloween-themed knock-knock jokes appear on every spread, often with a flap to lift in between setup and punch line. Some of the jokes and puns are surprising, others less so, but these groaners may be just the right addition to a Halloween routine. The cartoony illustrations are more humorous than creepy.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jannie Ho. When Santa's reindeer go on strike, he auditions various other animals. But the elephants are too heavy (they bust through a roof), and the cats are easily distracted by a mouse. Luckily, the reindeer are lured back with promises of a whirlpool and sauna. Children will enjoy the jaunty rhymes (though they occasionally stumble) and the embossed cartoon illustrations on thick cardstock.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jannie Ho. In this entertaining Halloween-themed story, a boy mistakenly boards a bus filled with a ghoulish cast of characters, including a mutant mummy driver, a pumpkin head, and a witch named Dolores. Bright, playful digital illustrations and zippy rhyming text bring this wild ride to life. The embossed cardstock pages will stand up to repeat readings long after Halloween is over.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear