CHRISTMAS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Looking through the eyes of a reindeer family, readers get a fanciful insider's view of business at the North Pole. Gesso texturing in Coffey's (Red Berry Wool) agreeably anthropomorphizing acrylic paintings gives a striking dimension to the animals' soft fur, depth to the starry cobalt sky, and funky, frosty swirls to the snow. His storytelling debut is equally sure-footed, capturing the wonder of the season through Little Reindeer's discovery of why his father mysteriously disappears every Christmas Eve. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)