Jeannette Claus Saves Christmas

Proving that Rudolph isn't the only one who can come through in the clutch, when Santa Claus gets sick on Christmas Eve his daughter, Jeannette, takes the reins. And when the snarky reindeer leave her with a sleigh half full of presents, levelheaded Jeannette improvises with friendly stray cats and dogs she finds in a city alley ("On Blaster, on Blackjack, on Wheezer and Grover!") before giving them a new home at the North Pole. Latyk's flat digital illustrations in pale pink and cool turquoise lend a soft retro flair to Rees's inventive and humorous tale. Ages 5–8. (Oct.)