Rhonda Gowler Greene and Henry Cole team up to bring us a humorous tale of Christmas. Santa's Stuck tells the story of Santa and all of those delicious snacks left out for him on Christmas Eve. A nibble here and a nibble there shouldn't hurt...right? Well on Santa's last delivery he decides to put his feet up and eat a feast of sweets. When it's time to go back up the chimney, Santa discovers a problem. Santa's stuck! With one word from Santa - Help! - the reindeer, assisted by the family dog, push and pull Santa...
"No-o-o-o-o luck --- Santa's stuck!"
Next to help is the family cat and her six kittens...
"No-o-o-o-o luck --- Santa's stuck!"
And finally a mouse, who is awakened by all of the commotion, comes to their aid. Santa is again pushed and pulled, pushed and pulled until the mouse comes up with a clever idea...
"Wh-oo-oo-oo-oo-oosh!
Santa's out! A silent cheer!
Reindeer harness up their gear.
Back inside his Christmas sleigh,
Santa shouts, 'Now dash away!"
Emmy and I just crack up at the idea of Santa eating so many sweets that he gets stuck in the chimney. After a fulfilling meal in our house, Emmy will rub her tummy and then when trying to get down from her chair will say, "Oh no. I'm stuck." This is followed by lots of giggles.
Henry Cole's illustrations add so much to the text. Each two-page spread is visually exciting and most include a smaller illustration set inside a filigreed circle which provides views of
other events occurring at the same time. Emmy's favorite illustration inside a cricle is the one showing Santa's bottom as he attempts to go up the chimney.
Here is Emmy's interpretation of the story using her baby doll's high chair as the chimney, her Polar Express Santa, her mouse named Oatmeal and a toy bulldozer (Mouse's clever idea!).
Emmy loves her stuffed mouse Oatmeal. She goes everywhere with us even on a visit to Santa Claus!
Merry Christmas!
Click here to read about our favorite Christmas books from last year!
No comments:
Post a Comment