The Great Santa Stakeout - Hardcover

Bird, Betsy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 133816998X ISBN 13: 9781338169980

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019

Synopsis

A delightfully devious Christmas story from beloved librarian Betsy Bird and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat.

Freddy Melcher is Santa's #1 Fan. He has Santa posters, Santa action figures, and even Santa underwear. But there is one prize Freddy desperately wants: A photograph taken with Santa, fresh out of the chimney.

Oh, is it risky! It's awfully hard to sneak anything by someone who can see you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake. That's why Freddy has been extra good this year . . . at hiding his plans.

Will Freddy get away with his delightfully devious scheme to outwit Santa Claus himself and capture the ultimate selfie?

About this title

About the Author

As a kid, Betsy Bird was incredibly shy, she wasn't good at sports, and she wasn't exactly the best artist in the world, but there was one thing she could do really well: read. She read comic strips and novels and comic books and picture books and magazines and pretty much anything she could get her hands on. When she grew up she became a children's librarian so she could work with books all day every day. She is also the author of Giant Dance Party, with illustrations by Goosebumps artist Brandon Dorman. Betsy was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now resides in Evanston, Illinois with her husband and offspring. Visit her at betsybirdbooks.com.
Dan Santat wrote and illustrated the graphic novel Sidekicks, and has also illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including The Guild of Geniuses and The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which won the Caldecott Medal. He lives in Alhambra, California, with his family. Visit his website at www.dantat.com.

Review

Praise for Dan Santat's first picture book, The Guild of Geniuses (Arthur A. Levine Books)

"Santat creates a fabulous world filled with kitschy delights . . . Some will recognize elements of Maira Kalman and William Joyce's artwork, but Santat is freshly his own." -- Booklist

"Children will chuckle over the urbane visual humor in this promising debut." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Kitschy fifties design and appealingly drawn characters make this a promising debut from Santat . . . Readers should keep an eye on Santat's attention-getting art and sympathetic monkey hero." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Dan Santat's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Caldecott Medal Winner
New York Times Bestseller
#1 Indiebound Bestseller
Huffington Post Best Overall Picture Book of 2014
PBS Parents Best Picture Book of the Year
NPR "Great Read"ALSC Notable Book for Children
A Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book of the Year

"Dan Santat is one of the hardest working people in the industry today. And while his immense talent was always evident, Beekle takes his artistry to a new level. The story (which is just bursting at the seams with charm) begins on an island of colorful creatures, each waiting to be imagined by a special child and thus transported to the real world . . . As with all great books, Beekle has an air of inevitability about it. As if somewhere out there is an island of perfect stories just waiting for the right person to come along and imagine it into being. We should all be grateful that Santat, with his brilliant use of color and humor, was here to bring Beekle to life." -- The Huffington Post

* "Santat's attention to detail in the mixed-media illustrations shares a child's eye for laughter and movement on full-bleed spreads with strategically placed text. Gazes of wonderment, broad smiles, and changes in perspective ensure an easy transition from page to page . . . Like Beekle's new friend, there's something here that feels just right as an "unimaginary" friendship creates a joyous, recognizable bond. A terrific addition to any library." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Betsy Bird's, Giant Dance Party, illustrated by Brandon Dorman (Greenwillow Books)

"The story nicely weaves together a realistic fear with fantasy elements. The characters' cheery personalities leap off the pages. Children will identify with Lexy and chuckle when they see the giants dancing . . . Bird and Dorman's efforts blend into a delightful picture book with a feel-good ending." -- School Library Journal

"This picture book, by prominent ­librarian-blogger Bird, includes such irresistible ingredients as a determined young girl, furry blue giants, and lots and lots of dancing." -- Booklist

About this edition

• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 133816998X
• ISBN 13: 9781338169980
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Santat Dan