Morris Wants More... for Christmas

In a mischievous riff on The Twelve Days of Christmas, Seigal and Falière introduce Morris—a spoiled boy whose scowling expression, tufted blond hair, and suit-and-tie outfit will make some readers think of Richie Rich and others, perhaps, of a child-size Donald Trump. Morris’s parents fearfully deliver him a Christmas gift each day, but although the packages grow in size, their pugnacious “sweet prince” is unsatisfied: “On the fifth day of Christmas, Morris got a mega present... but it wasn’t massive enough!” Falière’s swoopy, luridly colored cartoons contrast the physical exertions of Morris’s parents, wrangling with increasingly enormous packages, against their son’s selfish discontentment. Seigal’s story serves as a cautionary tale for readers whose Christmas lists could use trimming: on day 12, Morris gets squashed by the “supermega monstermassive present” that his parents cart in using construction equipment, though the final page shows him as simply dazed, not deceased. Ages 3–5. (Oct.)