Reviews

Another popular character makes an appearance in Pookie Believes in Santa Claus by Ivy Wallace. Young and old alike will delight in the nostalgic illustrations, first published in the U.K. in 1953 and newly available in the U.S. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 1-3-Originally published in Great Britain in 1953, this illustrated storybook provides a solution to the gnawing questions: How can Santa possibly go to everyone's home in one evening? Why do people give one another presents and pretend they're from Santa? Why are there fake Santas everywhere-people wearing Santa costumes? These issues have brought on a crisis of faith for Pookie, a rabbit with wings (there's no explanation for the wings), who fears "It's all just pretend." When he meets Santa, the little guy gets answers to these and a variety of other questions (such as why people hang up stockings). Santa explains that he doesn't give presents to everyone: "Children who have kind families and plenty of friends don't need me-. [but] If someone has done something special, I like to take them [sic] a present too." Enthusiastically punctuated with multiple exclamation points, populated by creatures with names like Wigglenose Rabbit and Squiffytail Squirrel, and illustrated to emphasize the cuteness inherent in small creatures and elves, this period piece holds more nostalgia value than contemporary appeal.-S. P. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.