Nate, of course, agrees to lend Santa a hand (what young boy wouldn’t jump at the chance to attend Santa camp and train to be the next St. Nick?), and Strobl delivers plenty of merrymaking along the way. Spoiler alert: Rudolph may be a superstar, but he’s grossly out of shape—and Santa’s understudies gain access to some seriously high-tech training equipment, including a state-of-the-art Sleigh Simulation Center and magical oats (that cause some problems for the more mischievous boys in the group). The Tooth Fairy’s hunting a replacement, too, and Olivia shows enough promise that she earns a ticket to camp alongside Nate, giving the story some holiday parallels that are equally hilarious and creative, particularly when the girls-in-training flub their first attempt at tooth gathering.
The action culminates with Nate and two other boys in the top of his class earning a ride-along with Santa on Christmas Eve. Of course, it doesn’t go according to plan, and Nate somewhat predictably saves the day, but the hijinks and bumps in the road result in an exciting night. Piwowarski’s black and white sketches capture the mirth as well as the magic, making this a well-rounded, amusing holiday tale.
Takeaway: A young boy may have what it takes to be the next Santa in this merry holiday tale.
Great for fans of: Michael Fry’s The Naughty List, Jonathan Emmett’s The Santa Trap.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
