Santa’s Puppy

Hapka introduces the North Pole’s top dog, Peppermint Bark, who is proud to be “Santa’s helper, his closest canine companion, and his best friend.” Determined to assist Santa with Christmas Eve duties, the hound stows away on the sleigh and, on one rooftop in the Christmas-obsessed town of Poinsettia, sneaks off in hopes of seeing “one of the creatures that Santa and I and all the others work so hard for all year long!” After falling into the chimney, the puppy is befriended by the family’s son, Chris, whose abundant Christmas spirit enables him to translate Peppermint’s bark. The urgency to find a portal that will transport the dog back home before the North Pole gates are locked for the year precipitates a whirlwind search involving Chris and his sister (who gets a much-needed injection of Christmas spirit), a friend, and two of Santa’s elves who’ve been dispatched to retrieve the missing pup. A cheery, sugar-coated holiday romp. Ages 8–10. (Oct.)