Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Martians love Christmas too, hints this intergalactic spin on Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas." In Parker Klostermann's clever rhyming lines, the red planet's kind and inventive inhabitants answer a distress call when Santa's sleigh at last heads their way. Teamwork makes the holiday dream work as Santa, portrayed with pale skin, helps local technicians, shown with colorful furry heads and friendly faces, draft an elaborate plan for repairs and an upgrade ("A gingerbread gizmo whirred up to restore/ the jingle bell boost to the main power core./ The mistletoe module was transformed to channel/ a positive charge to the sugarplum panel"). Lourenço's brightly quirky Mars, which features electric Doze-n-Dream nightcaps, a wiry Christmas "spruce," and a zingy rainbow of celestial stocking sweets, adds a dollop of cosmic fun to Christmas Eve traditions loved across the galaxy. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--This rhyming holiday picture book retells Clement Clarke Moore's classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" as set on Mars. The unnamed and ungendered storyteller wonders if Santa will finally visit Mars this year, while all around fellow Martians prepare for Christmas. When they hear a roar and see the approaching reindeer, it seems like a dream come true, until the sleigh starts to malfunction and Santa falls out of the sky. Will the Martians be able to help Santa and ensure he visits their planet again next year? Klostermann takes a traditional poem and cleverly reimagines it in outer space, including elements such as an "Outer Space Rescue Division," whose members have names like Kelvin and Quasar, and a sleigh with a cocoa dispenser. The prose is easy to follow, and each line is crammed with strong, descriptive language. Lourenço spares no expense with the richly colored digital art. The illustrations are packed with details, including a book on the living room floor titled How to be Good All Year and signs welcoming Santa in the background. Humor and fun radiate from this quirky and engaging retelling that children will enjoy at story hours or on their own. VERDICT A fantastic addition to holiday book collections.--Emily Beasley
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Review by Horn Book Review
Santa's sleigh crash lands on Mars, and technicians from the Outer Space Rescue Division are called in to diagnose the problem: "Malfunctions are due to our cosmic conditions!" Working together, Santa and the Martian techs upgrade the sleigh ("The tinsel-trimmed turbines were programmed to MAX. / The runners were polished with peppermint wax") and provide "astro-style suits" for the reindeer. Now, Santa can fill Martian stockings with "celestial sweets" and "savor his snack / in the Christmas tree's glow." The rhyming "Night Before Christmas"-style text gets a (rocket) boost from the energetic digital illustrations' slightly retro vibe. Kitty FlynnNovember/December 2024 p.14 (c) Copyright 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
Santa finally visits Mars in an intergalactic twist on Clement C. Moore's "A Visit From St. Nicholas." One young Martian is filled with excitement on Christmas Eve. Could this be the year that the red planet finally gets a visit from Santa? After going to bed, the little Martian is soon awakened by a clamor that could only be Santa himself. Disaster strikes when Santa's sleigh begins to malfunction and crash-lands on the surface of Mars. The Martian must summon the Outer Space Rescue Division for help: "Come Hubble and Gamma! / Come Barlow and Oort! / Come Kelvin and Nova! / Come Quasar and Vort!" Using an array of tools and blueprints, technicians rush to the rescue, checking everything from the cockpit to the cocoa dispenser. After Santa and the technicians have put things right, a relieved Santa goes on his way--full of cookies and polar-ice juice--but not before filling the stockings of the snoozing Martians. Playful, bouncy rhyming couplets are modeled after the original poem, with familiar themes sprinkled throughout and plenty of gadgets and gizmos for aspiring engineers and outer-space lovers alike. Dynamic illustrations convey movement and excitement in muted tones, with tons of fun, extraterrestrial details to spot. Martians have fuzzy, round heads like cotton balls, with large eyes, fluffy tails, and colorful antennae. Santa is tan-skinned. A fresh, interstellar Christmas adventure that's sure to be a read-aloud staple for the season.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
