Shhh!

In this slight but sweet picture book, Santa is so excited about delivering toys that he has a hard time keeping quiet on Christmas Eve. His loud ""Hee hee,"" a giant ""Ah choo!"" and his nervous stumbling threaten to wake up sleeping children on his route. Luckily, he avoids disaster and makes it back to the North Pole where he can let out a big ""HO, HO, HO!"" Kids will giggle at Santa's clumsiness and childlike behavior, and they'll likely take a shine to Warnes's (I Don't Want to Go to Bed) cartoony rendition of a roly-poly Saint Nick. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)