This charming book asks readers to wonder who, or what, could pull Santa’s sleigh. Sheep are cute but might put Santa to sleep. Goats are “nimble and quick,” but they’re likely to munch on everything in sight. Frogs would leap at the chance but might anger dragons, who think frogs are princes in disguise. Long-legged ostriches? They can’t get off the ground, so how about dinosaurs? Far too chaotic. Finally, robots are perfect…until their batteries run low. Which brings us back to reindeer. Barnsley’s rhyming prose is bouncy, humorous, and fast-paced, which younger audiences will enjoy. Epelbaum’s full-page illustrations are vibrant, clear, and expressive, with just the right touch of exaggeration, from the adorably sleepy sheep to the cross-eyed frog zapping a slimy slug. The depth and attention to detail in each illustration is impressive, inviting the audience to dwell on each page. This book is not simply a fun read-aloud; Barnsley also slips in interesting tidbits about each animal, such as goats’ voracious appetites, frogs’ remarkable tongues, and the fact that ostriches can’t fly. Perfectly suited to younger audiences, this playful picture book will put everyone in the mood for Christmas.
