THE SECRET OF SANTA’S ISLAND
by Steve Breen & illustrated by Steve Breen
In this ho-ho-hum effort, a boy named Sam stows away in Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve and then is invited along for a visit to an island spa and amusement park. Santa takes a special interest in Sam because the boy is the only child ever to thank Santa for all his Christmas gifts. Sam joins Santa and the elves in surfing, games and the park’s rides and events, but the attempts at humor seem forced. Several references and jokes in the text and illustrations will not be decodable or funny to young children (a gingerbread-man band named Bread Zeppelin, for example), and the premise of a midnight trip with Santa followed by a memorable surprise gift under the tree is awfully close to the plot of The Polar Express, without the gravitas. (Picture book. 3-6)