SANTA’S NEW SUIT

Looking over his battered—not to mention monotonous—wardrobe a week before Christmas, Santa decides that it’s time for a change. Mrs. Claus is worried, and rightly so, for after trying on everything from a tux at “Nip and Tux” to an alligator suit from “Costumania,” Santa returns from “The Snappy Dude” clad in hideous purple tattersall with matching hat. Elves, reindeer, and especially the children lined up to sit on his lap recoil in dismay. . . . “His visit did not go well.” Even the dog tries to destroy his cap. In the broken-lined cartoons, Santa sports a big red nose, plus an expression of ingenuous enthusiasm that fades as he sees the reaction to his sartorial experiment, then brightens again when, after a little gentle elbow jogging, he finally comes to his senses. Thanks to the elves, the tattersall doesn’t go to waste either. Rader’s solo debut will have children caroling with laughter. Ho, ho, ho. (Picture book. 5-8)