Through the North Pole Snow

In this quiet tale envisioning Santa’s off-season, a hungry little white fox in search of something tasty finds a special new friend at the North Pole. Even without the clue of a red Santa suit drying by the fire, readers will instantly recognize the red-sweater-clad man, “with a great round belly and a fox-white beard,” who welcomes the fox into his house. The fox and the man, who presents as white, settle in for a long winter’s nap and awake refreshed in spring, when the man busies himself crafting loads of new toys. Months later, when the first snow—and thousands of letters—float down from the sky, a familiar routine of checking lists, loading gifts, and hitching flying reindeer begins. Faber’s evocative text invites readers into the fox’s discovery of the man’s true identity, while Jones’s textured, mixed-media artwork fills in details, depicting Santa’s peaceful lifestyle amid a crisp rugged landscape and a rustic house where a lap fox feels right at home. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)