ARE YOU GRUMPY, SANTA?

To the titular question, the answer is yes. But, confirming what carbohydrate addicts have known all along, the Spiridellis brothers, in their children's book debut, espouse that a plate of cookies can cure even an extreme case of the grumps. Via rhyming verse and computer-generated artwork—a jarring mix of pancake-flat cartoonish characters and more dimensional backgrounds—Santa experiences a Murphy's Law day of preparations leading up to his Christmas Eve ride. Aches and pains (in one of many accidents, "he fell into the fireplace/ and sprained his/ chubby tush"), an itchy wool suit (the comfortable suit was shrunk in the dryer) and an empty belly (the garishly made-up Mrs. Claus has put him on a diet) darken Santa's mood. The tale ends with an admonition to readers: "Just be sure to leave some cookies,/ in case Santa's feeling grumpy." Ages 3-8. (Sept.)