CAREFUL, SANTA!

When Santa's bag accidentally falls overboard, not even the repeated warnings of all Santa's animal friends ("Careful, Santa!") prevent an ensuing series of mishaps in Sykes's (Dora's Eggs) tale of a windy Christmas Eve. Santa soon tumbles out of the sleigh ("landing on his bottom"), slips on a frozen pond and so on. But when he can't find his little mouse helper, it's Santa's turn to sound the warning and help her to safety. Warnes's (Scaredy Mouse) chipper artwork, complete with lots of whooshy brush strokes for wind and snow, help make the most of the story. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)