cover image An Elf for Christmas

An Elf for Christmas

Michael Garland. Dutton Children's Books, $15.99 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-525-46212-5

While on the job in Santa's workshop, Tingle the elf climbs into the cockpit of a toy plane and falls asleep. Next thing he knows, he's being unwrapped on Christmas morning. Terrified and homesick, Tingle tries to fly home to the North Pole, crashes, but eventually reaches his destination with the help of a polar bear. As brightly colored as a string of Christmas tree lights, Garland's (The Mouse Before Christmas) oddly surreal computer-generated illustrations teeter on the edge of garish; the best thing about them is the 3D illusion they project. Ages 3-8. (Oct.)