cover image Christmas Eve with Mrs. Claus

Christmas Eve with Mrs. Claus

M.P. Hueston, illus. by Teri Weidner. Sterling, $12.95 (16p) ISBN 978-1-4027-7736-3

Mrs. Claus gets her moment in the spotlight (although she spends most of it in the kitchen) in this lift-the-flap title. While Santa is preparing for his big flight, Mrs. Claus keeps busy cooking %E2%80%9Cmagic flying biscuits%E2%80%9D for the reindeer and other snacks, as well as stringing popcorn garlands. Throughout the book, she keeps misplacing items%E2%80%94honey, a cookie, a bowl of popcorn, etc.%E2%80%94and readers can help her find them by lifting the flaps that are incorporated into the spreads. Weidner%E2%80%99s carefully drafted illustrations exude a homey holiday air (the Clauses are both polar bears, and several other animal helpers are on hand to assist Mrs. Claus with her work). While Mrs. Claus never really steps out from her traditional supporting role, it%E2%80%99s clear that Santa%E2%80%99s lucky to have her. Ages 3%E2%80%937. (Oct.)