The story here is cute, but the illustrations are really the big draw here. Absolutely beautiful book. (My favorite are the crows in the pretty red vests.) ( )

No matter how many of Jan Brett's books I read, they never cease to amaze me. In the Animals' Santa we see Brett explore some of her favourite themes (Christmas, winter, gift giving) through a cast of anthropomorphized animals, who are amazed and excited by the soon-to-visit (but very mysterious) animals' santa. I found it a touch strange that Brett chose to specify that it's the animals' santa, since they are a humanized group of animals (even wearing clothing), but presumably she didn't want children reading the book to come awya with the idea that Santa is a great snowy owl. The central theme and conlict in this story is about children's belief in santa, though, so the fact that she has the animals' santa reveal himself to the animals to prove his reality to Little Snow is a bit counterintuitive. Yes, it solves the problem of Little Snow sowing disbelief among the animals, but the whole point of the Santa mythos is based on believing rather than seeing, so her story is still a bit problematic. The likely won't ruin the story for most readers though, since Brett uses her tried and true double-window illustrations to tell us the story of the animals' santa and to show us all of the new toys being made by the squirrel elves. ( )

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When Big Snowshoe tells his younger brother Little Snow about the Animals' Santa, the small rabbit has trouble believing in this mysterious, silent gift-giver. Even when the other woodland animals chime in, describing the gifts they have received, and guessing as to the identity of the giver, he remains unconvinced. Inspired by the sound of breaking ice, Big Snowshoe makes some wind chimes, hoping to alert the animals when their secret Santa is near...

One of many Christmas books from prolific author/artist Jan Brett - others that spring to mind include The Wild Christmas Reindeer, as well as her versions of The Twelve Days of Christmas and The Night Before Christmas - The Animals' Santa features a sweet story of two brothers at Christmas, and absolutely lovely illustrations. I've always felt that Brett's strength lies in her animal characters, rather than her human ones, so the artwork here really stood out. Her Santa (an owl) is gorgeous, and her woodland cast appealing. As always, I appreciated the artist's use of side panels, to tell more of the story. Recommended to Jan Brett fans, and to anyone looking for sweet Christmas stories featuring animals and/or the relationship between brothers. ( )

Beautifully illustrated book by Jan Brett about the forest animals and just who's bringing them gifts. Find out who the animal's Santa is after all... ( )