Presents Through the Window

PreS-Gr 1—In this picture book, a nontraditional Santa arrives by helicopter on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. After landing, he walks from house to house with his sack, deciding which present to leave by looking at the recipient through the window. However, what he thinks he's seeing isn't quite right. The "little kitten" is actually a pig in a sleeper with a kitten picture on it. The "zebra" is three swans sitting together on the bed with their necks extended. And poor bear! Since all Santa can see is the bear's dark fur through the window, he doesn't think anyone is home and leaves nothing. Santa's wrong assumptions create some humorous gift choices, but all works out in the end. Gomi's signature uncluttered use of color and shape draws the eye to Santa and the windows, with a bit of pattern thrown in to warm up the interiors.