The Selfish Sister, written by David Sedaris and illustrated by Bob Staake. A Toon Book, Astra. Penguin Random House, 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"Don't try to ride 
       her bright green trike. 
It's hers alone, 
       the un-kind tyke. 

It sits 

      un-used, 

            ignored, 

               forsaken

not peddled yet, no long rides taken."

I have always enjoyed David Sedaris' humor! I have read many of his adult books, and was happy to learn that he has turned his talents to writing for children. The first was Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk (Little, Brown, 2011). Look for it at the library; you won't be disappointed. I told readers about Pretty Ugly (TOON Books, 2024) previously, and next up is this book about a sister who can only properly be described as both SELFISH and GREEDY! She is trouble at every turn ... taking on anyone who gets in the way of her belief that the world (and all in it) is her oyster. 

 In cheeky rhymes, the author is able to show readers just exactly what greediness in its purest form is. There is not a thing that doesn't belong to her and she makes sure that everyone knows it, especially her small and quite terrified brother. No amount of trying keeps her from taking everything in sight: cork, tuning fork. bed, towel, chair, stuffed animals. Then, she moves outside. 

Finally, in a fit of anger, her father shouts "Enough! When she continues in her selfish ways, he offers a deal. She refuses. When she has finally claimed ALL to be hers, she finds herself without only one thing: friends. So much for her self-centered ways! 

Bob Staake fills the spreads with digitally colored pencil and ink drawings that are sure to please young readers. He leaves plenty of white space in order to keep attention on her antics and expressions. Green skin and one tooth make her a real charmer. Get ready to giggle, and then read it again. 
                                                                            

When Santa Wrote Back, words by Nathan Christopher and pictures by Pablo Pino. Sourcebooks Kids, Raincoast.2025. $19.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Santa, 

If this is a joke, I am not Ho Ho Ho-ing.
The suit doesn't suit me. My bedroom is snowing! 
Your reindeer are grazing - they started at dawn! 
My dad's getting mad that our lawn is half gone.

The sleigh is illegally parked on the street,
and pigeons are pooping all over the seat.
PLEASE come and take all your stuff back today!
(And also, confirm: are my gifts on the way?)"

Jake's first letter to Santa sets the tone for the back-and-forth correspondence that the two have throughout the course of this timely book. Many kids will be writing their letters to Santa in days to come. Jake asks a few questions about the North Pole; then goes on to let Santa know he has cleaned his room a few times in the past year. He also suggests that Santa look carefully at the list Jake is including in his letter. 

It's easy to see that Jake is not likely the guy to inspire Santa with his many requests. When he doesn't get an immediate reply, Jake writes again. His list is now pages long. Santa's first reply lets Jake know he is not much impressed with the tone of his letters. He ends with an assurance that his elves will be given the task of trimming the list. And, he will be watching Jake carefully in days to come. 

Conveyed in playful rhyming verses, with Jake's demands escalating while Santa does his best to let Jake know he is reading his letters carefully and is disturbed by their tone. Jake suggests that Santa take a vacation. Santa takes Jake at his word, making him his interim replacement for the Christmas season. 

"And Jake is the boss now, if you can believe it. 
When Santa gets mail, now Jake will receive it. 
So send him your wishes, ideas and questions, 
all your complaints and outrageous suggestions."       

Arriving at school the following morning is an eye-opener for Jake when kids start sharing their Christmas wishes. He is surprised to hear the spirit of generosity his classmates display. Lesson learned. His final letter to Santa is just what the big man needs to hear. Life returns to normal. Jake's Santa gift is a big surprise. All is well. 

This is a fine read aloud for December fun in early years classrooms. Energetic digital art adds to the appeal. Back matter offers tips for writing a letter to Santa.                                                                                    

Spider in the Well, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan. Katherine Tegen Books, Harper. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"He was also the chimney sweep, 
the shoe shiner, 
and the milkman. 

He was assured by the townspeople
that this was a fair arrangement."

First up: meet the newsboy. He is tasked with delivering the daily news to the good people of Bad Goodsburg. His other jobs are mentioned above. When the news breaks that the town's wishing well is damaged, there is much distress among the townspeople. The baker, the shopkeeper, and the doctor are particularly perplexed. The news boy is interested to discover whether the wishes were important ones. 

The doctor explains that his wish was to cure every illness; the shopkeeper wished for perpetual happiness for all; the baker wanted fresh bread for everyone, always. What generosity of spirit the three show! As the bearer of bad tidings, the newsboy is now taxed with investigating the problem with the well. No one else wanted the job. 

With great admiration for the people whose wishes were for the good of all, he is happy to help. Arriving at the well, he finds himself face to face with a spider at its bottom. The spider wants to explain why the well isn't working. The spider tells the newsboy it just did what spiders do: find a 'damp, dark, and musty' place to spin a web. It has become rich because of the wishes. The newsboy should know the baker, the shopkeeper, and the doctor lied about the wishes they made. 

Knowing what he now knows, the newsboy makes a plan to create some havoc for the liars. The three are willing to follow him back to the well, and are not pleased when they find a spider is causing the chaos. The spider pleads for understanding. 

"I would never steal gold or overhear any secret wishes
or tell those wishes to a nosy little boy." 

Knowing the truth certainly works in the boy's favor. He is able to give up his extra jobs to the guilty parties, make a deal with the spider for half of the gold coins at present and going forward, and realize his dream of retiring early. What a coup! 

Jess Hannigan’s playful mixed-media illustrations enrich the story and capture the full attention of the reader. The three sections of the tale (The Newsboy, The Well, and finally Justice) are filled with drama and humor. There's great fun here for all. 
                                                                               

                                                                               

The Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable, by Oliver Jeffers. Harper, 2019. $24.99 ages 8 and up

"You are mine,"
he said to the sheep.

"Yes," said the sheep.
"I suppose I am."

Feeling satisfied,
Fausto walked on.

Next, Fausto came upon
a tree and declared,
"Tree, you are mine."

In this painted fable, Oliver Jeffers provides a story for our times. Fausto is an ambitious and pompous man who believes he is the rightful owner of everything he sees in nature. No flower, tree, or animal is free from his demanding presence. Each proves agreeable to his statement of claim. Fausto moves on, always claiming more and more objects as his own.

With each response to his declarations, Fausto moves on to bigger and better places.

"When he reached a mountain,
Fausto said in a clear voice,

"Mountain, you are mine!"

"No," said the mountain.
"I am my own."

Fausto is infuriated and is quick to show his ire. The mountain succumbs to Fausto's pressure. That only gives Fausto more power; he moves on to the sea. Nothing is ever enough to satisfy his greed. The sea proves his undoing ... and all can return to what they were before meeting Fausto and learning of his fate. 

The mood in Fausto's story is portrayed in browns and blues that evoke a bleak and distressing world. Is this book a treatise on greed, a fable for the times in which we are living, or a cautionary story concerning our treatment of the natural world? Oliver Jeffers knows. Readers will have their own thoughts.

Exceptional!