HOW CARROT AND COOKIE SAVED CHRISTMAS

Carrot and Cookie unexpectedly fill Santa’s shoes in a grand adventure.

It’s Christmas Eve, and Carrot still doesn’t have a present for bestie Cookie. Pickle points out that getting a gift should be “no big dill,” but Carrot needs something “EXTRA special.” Cookie’s “also in a jam.” What should Cookie get Carrot? Cupcake’s idea—adding sprinkles to every problem—is “a little half-baked.” Ultimately, neither Carrot nor Cookie gets anything for the other. Anxiety gets the best of them both. The pair eventually decide to “spill the beans” at their annual Christmas Eve sleepover. But their confessions are interrupted by a “Ho-ho-ho…achoo!” as a gingerbread Santa bursts onto the scene. Bad news: Santa is sick and going to have to cancel Christmas. Good news: Cookie and Carrot volunteer to save the day. They recruit various vegetables to replace the broken reindeer (including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Radish”) and put Santa to bed. Can they get everything delivered in time? This follow-up to When Carrot Met Cookie (2021) is as wholesome as it is funny. The dialogue-driven story (with speech bubbles) asks readers to suspend disbelief and trust in “veggie power”—they’ll willingly do so. Perl and Fenske’s commitment to the punny, perishable world makes for some delectable details—even the moon is made of cheese!

A sweet treat for the holiday shelves.