Santa's Kwanzaa
PreSchool-Grade 1–After an exhausted Santa (who is black) completes his last deliveries and returns home, he is greeted by his wife and elves. He immediately dons his kente and celebrates Kwanzaa with his household–although wouldn't the day that Santa arrives home from his gift-giving be December 25 and not 26? The illustrations of this generously sized book are filled with warm Kwanzaa colors and wide-grinned elves. Unfortunately, the rhymed text, which is similar in rhythm to Clement C. Moore's "'Twas the Night before Christmas," is clunky, with awkward word choices and non-scanning lines. The book assumes some knowledge of Kwanzaa, as its symbols and meaning are barely touched upon. The cheerful, energetic art makes this an adequate choice where picture books on this holiday are in high demand.–E. M.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.