A Dance with Santa Claus

Boynton applies her signature wit and clean-cut visual style to this picture book, a jubilant Christmas Eve romp spun off from a song on her holiday album, Cows and Holly. First-person narration comes from a pajama-clad, long-eared gray rabbit with an atypical holiday wish: “a dance with Santa Claus.” Why? Because “he’s OH SO JOLLY!// We could deck all the halls with Buddy Holly!” In the lead-up to the big night (and its gratifying conclusion), verse’s rhythmic repetition conveys the hopeful dancer’s single-mindedness, eager anticipation, and whole-hearted Santa-awe: “I’m putting on my dance shoes./ I really believe./ It’s not about presents./ No, it never was./ I just want to dance with/ Santa Claus.” Boynton fans will find familiar-feeling singsong liveliness at play throughout, amplified by holiday-styled end pages that urge, “Dance!” Santa is portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)