Review by Booklist Review
Last year, Maxwell slept through Santa Claus' visit, but this year, he's determined to meet the man himself. This requires, of course, some ninja skills, as well as a few clever traps, starting with a very pointed letter: This year, I don't want anything. Just stop by for milk and cookies. And make sure you sit on this red chair. Maxwell's traps ultimately work, though not in the way he expects, and he discovers that Santa has some sneaky, ninjalike skills of his own. Chung's multimedia illustrations, incorporating paintings, collage, and digital media all in comicslike panels, show Maxwell's letters to the man in red, hint at his Santa-catching ploys, and reveal a surprising ending sure to delight little ones. Ultimately, Maxwell is more impressed by Santa's superior sneakiness than frustrated at his failure to finally meet him, and he gets an extraspecial present to boot. Fans of Chung's other Ninja books (Ninja!, 2014, and Ninja! Attack of the Clan, 2016) will appreciate this holiday-themed installment.--Greengoss, Annie Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Previously seen in Ninja! and Ninja! Attack of the Claw, ninja-in-training Maxwell is feeling a bit stung that Santa Claus left him a hamster for Christmas last year, instead of the rat-eating snake that he had requested. This year, Maxwell decides to lay an elaborate trap for Santa ("Make sure you sit on this red chair," reads the letter Maxwell leaves for him), but is it possible that Santa is even sneakier and stealthier than Maxwell? Chung's exuberant mixed-media illustrations bring out the wiliness of his young ninja hero's plans and the energy that's an inherent part of Christmas Eve. Ages 4-7. Agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Aspiring ninja Maxwell vows to catch Santa Claus with a series of clever traps. Chung's illustrations combine traditional picture book and comic book elements; add pitch-perfect comic characterization to the mix and you have a read-aloud that kids (and adults) will put on repeat. Maxwell leaves a letter for Santa with some weighty questions ("Are elves taller than kids? Can you read minds? Is your sleigh energy renewable?"), and falls asleep waiting. When crashing noises wake Maxwell, he grabs a flashlight and his dog Brutus to invesitgate, and discovers his terrified papa trapped by hula hoops and covered in cookie crumbs! All the while, Santa (a master ninja himself) hides behind the Christmas tree. As the family sleeps, he easily evades Maxwell's traps. On Christmas morning, Maxwell finds a letter from Ninja Santa answering his previous questions and complimenting his engineering and ninja skills. He also leaves him some sneaky Santa shoes! Maxwell's closing note, promising a "big SURPRISE!" next year, will inspire giggles as readers imagine the high jinks to come. VERDICT Hilarious, action-packed, read-aloud gold. Maxwell's ninja traps will inspire young ones to engineer their own. An easy purchase for all libraries.-Shanna Kim, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In his note to Santa, young ninja Maxwell (Ninja!, rev. 6/14) claims he doesnt want anything this year, but make sure you sit on this RED CHAIR! P.S. I hope you cant read minds. (Always a tell.) Chungs sly comic-panel illustrations reveal what the nimble text doesnt-- Maxwells stealthily rigged traps around the red chair. His snares are effective, but not on his intended victim. Papa? Those are Santas cookies! (Uh-oh.) Mama swiftly gets everyone back to bed; Ninja Claus silently springs into action. Christmas morning brings surprises that not even young Maxwell could have anticipated. Ninja Claus for the win! kitty Flynn (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Maxwell the ninja tries to capture Santa in this third offering in Chung's popular series, following Ninja! (2014) and Ninja! Attack of the Clan (2016). Dressed in his ninja suit, Maxwell is determined to see Santa on Christmas Eve. He devises a trap with a handwritten note and multiple ropes to catch Santa in the act of delivering toys. Instead, the trap catches Maxwell's dad when he sits down in a red recliner to sample the snacks set out for Santa. The family goes back to bed, no one spotting Santa already in the house and hiding behind the Christmas tree. Santa uses his Ninja Claus skills to carefully avoid additional traps, leaving a handwritten note for Maxwell and a gift of elf-made ninja shoes. Cleverly composed illustrations use a combination of graphic panels, traditional picture-book illustrations, and multiple handwritten notes between Maxwell and Santa, providing a delightfully varied means of conveying the story. Speech balloons, sound effects set in display type, and appearances by Maxwell's hamster add more layers of interest to the overall design. Maxwell and his small sister are biracial; his mom is Asian and his dad is white; Santa is white. This funny Christmas story will be a gift to Maxwell's fans and enjoyed by children interested in the ninja craze. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
