A Christmas Advent Story

Flaps? Check. Seasonal scenery? Check. Advent calendar? Not exactly. This seek-and-find, lift-the-flap book shows two children and their dog actively readying for Christmas, but with more than one flap per spread and revealed images that aren’t always related to the text, readers will not likely tackle one flap per day in the traditional Advent-calendar manner. Technicalities aside, Tolson’s folk art–style, digitally created images feature quaint, wintry scenes of a bustling, snow-covered, small-town streetscape, as well as a cozily appointed house, where cookie baking, tree decorating, and gift wrapping are on the to-do list. Readers will feel like part of the action leading up to the big day as they peek under the flaps and ponder the guessing game and counting questions sprinkled throughout. Ages 1–5. [em](Sept.) [/em]