(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chris Mould. Amelia, whose hope helped Father Christmas deliver his first gifts, is now orphaned and stuck in a workhouse. It's up to Father Christmas to help, despite his own holiday headaches. The plot feels unfocused--with historical-figure cameos and Santa's-workshop scenes vying for space--but fans of companion book A Boy Called Christmas will find echoes of its charm, particularly in the expressive black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chris Mould. Born in Finland, Santa was named Nikolas. Running away from a horrid aunt, he searches for his father in the Far North and arrives in the village of Elfhelm. In the end, generous Nikolas grows that famous beard and embraces his gift for giving. Spindly black-and-white illustrations feel merry even in their simplicity. There's fanciful sweetness in this confection.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Stacy Curtis. When your dad has been missing for two hundred and eleven days and you're the school bully's favorite target, being a cat seems like a pretty good life. But twelve-year-old Barney Willow's feline transformation has unexpected consequences. A dastardly villain, a humorous narrator, and occasional line drawings should keep readers' interest, especially those who love (or hate) cats.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Samuel's old friend Troll-Son runs away from the Betterer, a particularly nasty troll who punishes troll children with itching soap and dunking cages. Samuel also has troubles of his own (e.g., rich Mr. Myklebust wants to send Samuel's uncle to jail). Trolls and humans work together to save the day in this silly, affectionate sequel to Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 Newly orphaned Samuel and his younger sister Martha are sent to live with their strange aunt Eda on the edge of the Norwegian woods. The siblings are quickly drawn into the magical forest, which is threatened by creatures that have been corrupted by the wicked Changemaker. The fairly conventional plot gives many characters in the ensemble cast opportunities for heroics.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin