A NEW IMPROVED SANTA

Santa is on a year-long self-improvement binge ("My clothes are old-fashioned and my 'Ho-ho-ho' is so-so-so boring"). With the support of the privately amused Mrs. Claus, Santa slims down, spikes his hair and experiments with a variety of sartorial styles before settling on a hipster suit and shades. Wolff's droll and assured text finds its match in Cravath's (One Little Two Little Three Little Pilgrims) puckish illustrations. Kids will have a hard time deciding which of the "new, improved" incarnations is funniest—hip-hop Santa, toting a boom box, is only one contender. Ages 4-7. (Oct.)