This entertaining holiday story reveals how the forest animals receive their Christmas gifts. A young snowshoe hare, celebrating his first Christmas, is told that the "animals' Santa" will be delivering presents that night. Little Snow is skeptical since no one has ever seen this Santa and there are no footprints, sounds, or other signs of his visits. Then, presents rain down from above and he catches sight of the benefactor. Brett's signature meticulously detailed watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are eye-catching. On either side of the main paintings appear small, intricately designed Native American style quillwork frames containing owl-shaped inserts with pictures of lemming elves busily making presents. Whether or not children have ever questioned if wild animals celebrate Christmas, this satisfying story will spark their imaginations and add to their holiday pleasure.

When Little Snow, a young white rabbit, asks the forest animals for clues as to their Santa's identity, everyone has a different theory. Border decorations on each spread hint at the answer, (wordlessly) extending the story. This elusive Santa is definitely real, making Little Snow's ultimate discovery truly satisfying. Brett's clean, precise watercolors show animals dressed in cozy Nordic vests.

PreS-Gr 2 The woodland denizens of a northern Canadian forest can't wait for Christmas, because that's when their Santa secretly leaves gifts (heart-shaped stones, bells, acorns, and the like) for everyone. Big Snowshoe the rabbit is absolutely convinced of Santa's existence; Little Snow, his younger brother, is a bit more skeptical, and nothing Big Snowshoe or the other animals say as they decorate a Christmas tree make him feel any differently. Side panels on each page show lemming elves creating the various gifts. A minor accident on the frozen stream gives Big Snowshoe the idea to hang ice crystals on twigs, and the sound they make alerts everyone to the appearance of Santa, who is a snowy owl. As usual, Brett's illustrations are the highlightlush and magical, filled with whimsical details that will reward repeated viewings. The story itself is adequate (though the twist in which the predator delivers gifts to his normal prey is ingenious) and could play a part in a nonreligious holiday program. Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library