LEMMING'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

A lemming and her arctic pals search for a tree to decorate for Santa’s visit.

When Avinngaq hears children singing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” she’s confused. Her sled dog friend Qimmiq explains that on Christmas, people decorate trees. “Then Santa Claus comes!” So Avinngaq asks all the arctic animals to help her find a tree. Unfortunately, they turn up only vegetation such as seaweed, flowers, and arctic willow. Avinngaq is almost out of hope until she plops down on the perfect piece of driftwood. Using the flora that the animals collected, they decorate the perfect tree—and the next day, they discover that Santa has delivered plenty of gifts. All the animals go by their Inuktitut names, and a helpful pronunciation guide follows the story. The simple text is easy to follow and puts a toddler-friendly arctic twist on the familiar holiday. Using blues, purples, and pinks, Mack captures the polar setting; the vividly hued sky is especially eye-catching. Avinngaq and her friends are sweetly drawn, with beady black eyes and expressive faces; all will appeal to little readers. The pacing of the tale, the inviting illustrations, and the opportunity for exposure to the Inuktitut language make this a shelf-worthy holiday title.

A distinct and skillful take on familiar Yuletide themes.