Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas

Yukio is a dutiful ninja, but all he wants for Christmas is an “epic” snowball fight with his brethren. (They refuse, not wanting to end up on Santa’s “naughty” list.) Determined “to run Santa out of Ninja Village,” Yukio sounds the alarm when Santa arrives; the young ninjas successfully chase off the “intruder,” who is soon replaced by a mysterious samurai with a snowman army—giving Yukio his snowball fight after all. A muted red-and-blue palette, exuberantly playful typography, and some Crouching Tiger–worthy action sequences (“Ninjas and snowmen clashed!!!” writes Pingk as the opposing forces fly toward each other across a snowy field) combine to create a frenzied, fun, and nontraditional Christmas tale. It’s an impressively disciplined debut for Pingk and, just as important, a blast to read. Ages 4–8. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency. (Sept.)