Peter Claus and the Naughty List
Each Christmas, Santa"s son, Peter, has the unpleasant task of checking the lists twice to see who"s been naughty or nice. Destined for his second stint on the naughty list, Peter questions the fairness of the system. Still, "I didn"t make the rules," Santa says. "But you know what they are." Peter certainly does--but he doesn"t have to like it. This year, he"s taking matters (and the reindeer reins) into his own hands, and for the small group of perfectly nice Naughties around the world, this may just turn out to be a bountiful Christmas after all. This original tale from author Lawrence David and illustrator Delphine Durand, the imaginative creators of Beetle Boy, celebrates those brave rebels who won"t stand for injustice. Peter is no rabble-rousing scoundrel, though. He"s just a goodhearted boy who occasionally goes astray. But, as his wise old dad says, "All people do naughty things once in a while. It can"t be helped. Saying you"re sorry is what matters most." Durand"s quirky, stylized illustrations feature sausage-shaped dogs, TV remote-control wielding reindeer, and chip-off-the-old-block-shaped-dad Peter Claus, with endearing sticky-outy ears and blond Beatles-style hairdo. (Ages 6 to 11) --Emilie Coulter