Santa's Gift

Timothy, a kitten, has no friends, because he never shares his toys. Santa solves the problem one Christmas by giving him the ""joy of giving"" instead of a present--Timothy gets to deliver new toys to all the other animals. Humphrey the hippo helps him overcome his disappointment, and soon Timothy has friends galore. To some extent the book transcends its contrived plot through sheer force of the artwork, a fancifully postmodern blend of muted acid hues and puckish perspectives, but, tethered by all the moralizing, it never gets fully off the ground. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)