Children's books reviews: A characterful Christmas

By Stephanie Owen Reeder
Updated December 31 2014 - 10:13am, first published December 19 2014 - 11:45pm

Picture books make the perfect Christmas gift for children, and none more so than those that introduce colourful and interesting characters. The main character in Pamela Butchart's Yikes, Santa Claws (Bloomsbury. 32pp $14.99) is green and gross, and he may be coming down a chimney near you! Sure to appeal to young dinophiles, this book features an out-of-control dinosaur who pretends to be Santa Claus. He slides somewhat inexpertly down chimneys and proceeds to eat all the Christmas food and open everyone else's presents. Along the way, he also trashes houses and leaves inappropriate calling-cards.