Review by Booklist Review
Elliot, the toy elephant, makes his fourth appearance, here at Christmastime. But Elliot isn't feeling the spirit of the season. No matter what he and his friend Mouse do go to the Nutcracker, visit the tree in Rockefeller Center he feels down about the holiday. Then, a wayward letter to Santa (literally) smacks him in the face. He tries to deliver it to a department-store Santa, but he's gone home. After Elliot reads the letter, he knows what he must do. He and Mouse go to the home of the girl who has been hoping Santa brings her good friends; with a hug, Elliot delivers her gift. The story is simple yet sometimes serious in its examination of emotions. As in previous books, Curato's retro illustrations are a highlight. Strong and sturdy, with Elliot often the center of attention, the pictures have impact, and their large size makes them great for sharing. This is also a conversation starter about the real meaning of Christmas.--Ilene Cooper Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Little Elliot, the white and pastel-polka-dotted elephant, is regretfully lacking Christmas spirit. With friend Mouse, Elliot looks for inspiration from the department store Santa, at a production of The Nutcracker, in the tree in Rockefeller Center, and sledding in Central Park. When Elliot discovers a lost letter from a child to Santa, he and Mouse take a yellow cab out of the city and to a quiet country house, where they deliver themselves in response to the girl's modest request: "Dear Santa, for Christmas I would like some good friends." With elegant scenes that seem lifted from a bygone New York City, Curato again enhances a quiet story about friendship and belonging. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Little Elliot, a polka-dotted elephant, can't relax and enjoy the holidays. His buddy Mouse hopes for a toy train for Christmas, but earnest Little Elliot just wants the Christmas spirit. The department store Santa tells him that he must find that himself, so the pint-size pachyderm and his pal participate in a host of holiday activities. Nothing works until Little Elliot discovers a missive intended for Santa that's gone astray. Elliot and Mouse decide to make the letter writer's Christmas wishes a reality, delivering what she asked for: good friends. Little Elliot is a gentle soul who's often overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of New York City, and this quiet adventure will resonate with thoughtful, sensitive readers. As in previous installments, Curato revels in the vintage Manhattan setting, with lavish paintings of the tree at Rockefeller Center, a sled ride in Central Park, and a production of The Nutcracker. His stiff, waxy depictions of people aren't nearly as successful, but Mouse and Little Elliot are so adorable that readers may not even notice. VERDICT A lovely addition to holiday collections, especially where Little Elliot is popular.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Originally seen in picture-book form (rev. 11/18), this board book follows the holiday adventures of polka-dotted elephant Little Elliot, who isn't feeling the Christmas spirit, and friend Mouse, who's helping Elliot search for it. Discovering a girl's letter to Santa finally leads to a merry Christmas for everyone. Curato's nostalgic pencil and digital illustrations effectively enlist the yesteryear setting and New York City's classic seasonal activities to amplify the tale's sentiments. The story line is somewhat choppier in this truncated version, and some of the humor is lost, but the warmth shines through. Cynthia K. Ritter November/December 2019 p.28(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Little Elliot, the white, polka-dot elephant, visits Santa at a New York department store with his friend Mouse.He is looking for the Christmas spirit, but Santa tells him he'll have to find that himself. Elliot and Mouse search at the ballet, Rockefeller Center, and while sleddinghaving fun but not finding the Christmas spirit. The story of the two friends is prefaced by wordless illustrations on the front endpapers and title page in which a little girl, bundled against the cold, tries to post a letter only to have it ripped out of her hands by the wind. The two stories come together when the red envelope addressed to Santa lands on Elliot's forehead. He and Mouse read the letter, grab a cab, and arrive at a house with a red door, where Noelle, the girl who wrote the letter, invites them in, thus fulfilling both her and Elliot's Christmas wishes. Not-a-word-out-of-place storytelling is enhanced by soft-focus illustrations done in pencil and colored digitally, which perfectly capture the characters' expressions. The city setting seems to be post-World War II, with an old-fashioned look that could easily appeal to grandparents looking for a heartwarming holiday book to share. Young children will have fun trying to spot little Mouse throughout. Curato populates the pages with an eye to diversity, including people of color and a child who uses a wheelchair; Noelle appears to be Asian.A treat for fans of the Little Elliot series. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
