After Santa falls sick from a winter chill, all Christmas gift-giving slides into peril. But Santa knows who to call to save the day: Pete the Cat, of course! With its cute illustrations and clever, memorable rhymes, this picture book evokes chuckles and the holiday spirit.

When Santa falls ill just before Christmas, who’s the first number on his speed dial? Pete the Cat, of course. Standing on his surfboard, staring out with the deadpan expression readers will recognize from his previous books, Pete agrees to make Santa’s Christmas Eve deliveries; before long the reindeer are strapped to Pete’s red minibus (“Then the minibus flew, just like in a movie./ Pete the Cat cried, ‘This is totally groovy!’ ”). Despite Pete’s ongoing anxieties about being too small for the job, there aren’t any hiccups along the way, making for a gently off-kilter but fairly straightforward story. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 1—With a rhythmic nod to "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," this book is sure to become a favorite. It's Christmas Eve and Santa is ill, so he asks Pete to deliver the presents. "Road trip!" cries the cat in his characteristically groovy way as he hops in his minibus. Even though he is quite small, the oh-so-cool feline gives it his all and gets the job done. Watercolor, acrylic, and ink illustrations in bright holiday colors are fresh and fun, while a singsong refrain focuses on giving to others. Don't miss Pete in a Santa hat driving his van past the moon pulled by eight reindeer: "Then the minibus flew, just like in a movie. Pete the Cat cried, 'This is totally groovy!'" Indeed it is.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

He's back! That wildly popular cat steps in to save Christmas in the nick of time when Santa Cat gets sick. Santa calls Pete, who is vacationing in Key West, and the helpful cat hops in his magically powered red van with his friend, a little yellow bird. Together they travel to the North Pole, where they hitch up the reindeer and load up the Christmas toys for delivery. Pete sings a new holiday song about giving: "although I am small, / at Christmas we give, so I'll give it my all." (As with the other Pete stories, the song and the story are available for download on the publisher's website.) Pete, the yellow bird and the reindeer get all the toys delivered by Christmas morning, and when they return to the North Pole, they are met with cheers and a banner of thanks from Santa, the elves and the townsfolk. In the bottom corner of the final page, the yellow bird waits with a tiny package for Pete. The vibrant illustrations and the simple story create a satisfying whole, complemented by the song, but kids may need help understanding the expression "give it your all," and they may also wonder why Pete looks perpetually bored. But hey, it's all good. Keep movin' and groovin', Pete. You're one hip cat. (Picture book. 3-8)