The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Cuyler, Margery

That's Good! That's Bad! On Santa's Journey

32 pp. | Holt | November, 2009 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8050-8777-2 $16.99

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Garland. As Santa embarks on his Christmas Eve journey, a string of mishaps await. Luckily, each problem ("Oh, that's bad") easily resolves itself ("No, that's good!"). Cuyler's slapstick humor and Garland's trademark garish digital illustrations paint Santa as a sort of bumbling buffoon: stumbling, splitting his pants, and being stranded by his reindeer. A slew of sound effects--"WHOOSH!," "BRRRR," "WHEEEE!"--will energize storytime.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan