Santa Claus Is on a Diet! Book

Beautifully produced, this humorous Christmas book offers a message about healthy eating and healthy hearts. Cleverly told in verse, the story finds Santa in a spot. Centuries of festive food have taken their toll on his waistline—and narrow chimneys present a problem. Mrs. Claus puts her foot down, announcing that it's time for a healthy eating plan and more exercise for Santa and the reindeer. Kids will laugh at pictures of Santa hiking, biking, and working out with weights, and they may be inspired to act on Santa's instructions to set out carrots, not cookies, for his snack on Christmas Eve.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-The health craze hits the North Pole, and Mrs. Claus insists that Santa lose some weight. She has good reason-he's having a hard time getting down the chimneys and can't keep up with the workload. A visit to the doctor yields good diet advice, and Santa works hard to slim down. Everyone is happy-except the elves and reindeer. By trading their healthy snacks for Santa's junk food, they've gained all the weight that he lost, and more. It takes another year for everyone to get healthy, but they're all happy they've made the effort. The brightly colored, retro-inspired artwork might be a little old for kids (Mrs. Claus looks downright mean). Teachers and parents looking for a way to mix health and holiday might find this useful, but it's a little too message-driven to be any fun.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library