Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this lively holiday read, a Black family hoping to welcome Santa to their home get more than they bargained for after his sleigh breaks down. When Santa, portrayed with brown skin and sporting jeans and tattoos, agrees to a brief vacation while he awaits a new sleigh fuse, he quickly proves a difficult houseguest for the Mack family, holding loud jam sessions, eating everything in sight, and damaging Mr. Mack's motorcycle. When he cracks the tablet he brought Mabel for Christmas, the child declares, "Santa's gotta go!" Though Santa doesn't get the hint until after the family departs for a hotel, the Macks return to a tidied house--and a concerning promise that Santa will be bragging to his friends about the stay. Via blow-by-blow text and expressive thin-lined art, Barnes and Lovett bring comedic havoc to this vision of a Santa who's more chaotic than nice. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--After seeing a story on TV about a family hanging out with Santa Claus, the Mack family decides that they want to get Santa to stay at their house for a while. Their wish is granted when Santa's sleigh breaks down, and he has to wait three days for a replacement part to arrive. But hosting Santa is not the fun the family thought it would be: Santa eats all the food, makes noise late into the night playing music with guys from the neighborhood, and takes Mr. Mack's motorcycle out for a drive without asking. When Santa accidentally stomps on Mabel's new tablet, she "balled up her fists, scrunched her up her nose, and shouted: 'Santa's Gotta Go!!!'" Fed up, the Macks spend Santa's last night at a hotel and are surprised by what they find when they return home. This contemporary, creative story portrays a Black Santa Claus who works out, sports tattoos, and only has a slight belly. Children will delight in many modern elements of the story, such as Santa ordering a part for his sleigh online using a laptop. Crisp illustrations transport readers into the comfortable and loving home of a young Black family and clearly convey the family's emotions on their faces: exhaustion, annoyance, anger, surprise, and more. VERDICT Children will love seeing an easily relatable Santa Claus and family. Pair this fun story with Billy Sharff's When Santa Came to Stay.--Florence Simmons
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this silly Santa story, siblings Monte and Mabel Mack invite Santa Claus to stay with their family after his sleigh breaks down on Christmas. While waiting for a "yip-yip fuse" to fix it, he makes himself at home, putting his feet up on a loveseat and eating everything in sight. When he mistakenly cracks Mabel's new tablet, she declares, "SANTA'S GOTTA GO." But order is restored, and kindness and patience recognized. Lovett's humorous digital illustrations will make readers believe in a Santa who wears skinny jeans and has several tattoos and an earring. Marva Anne HintonNovember/December 2023 p.11 (c) Copyright 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
The Mack family wants to host Santa Claus, but they don't realize what they're in for when their wish comes true. Mr. Mack and the kids, Mabel and Monte, string bright lights, and Mrs. Mack bakes lots of sweets. When Santa stops by to leave gifts and gobble cookies, he doesn't plan to stick around. But his sleigh won't start (despite the reindeer, it requires Santa to press a green button that appears to be out of order). Santa orders the part he needs online, and the Mack children invite him to stay for the three days it will take to arrive. But instead of spending cozy quality time with Santa, the Macks must contend with his middle-of-the-night rock band practice, sinks full of dirty dishes (Santa has an insatiable appetite), and broken valuables. Finally, the Macks, in need of a break, spend a night in a hotel. When they return, Santa has left their place spotless, with a note thanking them for being such great hosts during his much-needed vacation. Lovett's bright, wonderfully expressive cartoon illustrations feature a relatable Black family and a very modern Black Santa: tall and muscular with jeans, tattoos, and a red flannel shirt. Santa's outlandish shenanigans will have readers giggling and turning pages to see how the Macks will survive his stay. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A fun reminder about the holiday spirit of giving. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
