HARRIET AND GEORGE'S CHRISTMAS TREAT

Christmas nibblers everywhere are sure to relate to Carlson's (Louanne Pig in the Mysterious Valentine) tale of the dreaded Yuletide fruitcake. When Harriet and George run into Ms. Hoozit on her way home to cook, they assume that she is whipping up her famous loaf, which they used last year for cracking nuts and playing football. Carlson's hilarious vignettes depict the exhausting measures they take to avoid Ms. Hoozit. But the joke's on them when the pals discover that she made fudge instead—and by the time they get to Ms. Hoozit's all she has left is... you guessed it. A holiday joke that feasters young and old can appreciate. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

FYI: This review should have been included in the Children's Holiday round-up (Sept. 24).