Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas!

September 4, 2017
Mary Christmas wishes that the other members of the her family were a bit less fanatical during the holidays: her parents and siblings pick a tree so big that it shoots through the roof of their house, they short-circuit the neighborhood with their light display, and the pile of presents in their shopping cart is an avalanche waiting to happen. When Mary confides in Santa about her feelings, he suggests that maybe she can find a way to embrace (and spread) her family’s enthusiasm. She does so by persuading them to share their celebration with the larger community in the local park—tree, gifts, and all. Durst’s kinetic mixed-media cartoons convey the family’s over-the-top enthusiasm with humor and understanding as Friedman makes the case that the best thing to do with abundance is to share it. Ages 4–9. Author’s agent: Susie Cohen, PearlCo Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Group.

October 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Everyone loves Christmas, but when your last name is Christmas, you love it even more. The Christmas family's celebrations diminish those of their neighbors, and this has begun to bother young Mary. She scorns the overabundance and wonders if there is "such thing as too much Christmas?" Mary seeks the advice of a wise mall Santa who opens her eyes to the true meaning of the day. This contemporary tale is timely and filled with relatable characters. The message that one person can bring about positive change, no matter the situation, is triumphant, and the idea that the holidays are for sharing is beautifully presented. Readers will root for Mary as she tries to shape her families' spirit into something everyone can enjoy. The colorful illustrations add to the merriment. VERDICT A merry selection, just perfect for storytimes highlighting the true meaning of Christmas.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017
A family with the last name of Christmas celebrates the holiday in over-the-top style, but their daughter Mary is less than enthusiastic. The family's Christmas tree is far too large, they have massive piles of gifts, and their house has so many lights that power to their neighborhood is interrupted. Mary wishes her family's Christmas were not so lavish, and she tells the department-store Santa all about it. Santa advises her that she needs to find some way to love Christmas herself. On Christmas morning, Mary convinces her family to change their ways, and they pack up their tree, presents, and lights, tying everything on top of their van in comical fashion. They invite everyone in town to a Christmas party, and the community works together to set everything up in a park for a celebration on Christmas night. The story has an obvious message, that excess at Christmas can spoil the holiday, though Santa doesn't agree with that. There isn't much underlying motive for Mary's attitude (it doesn't seem to be rooted in her name) nor explanation of why her family celebrates to such excess and then abruptly changes. Cartoon-style illustrations in bold colors create a busy, humorous effect with a huge cast of background characters of many ages and ethnicities. The Christmas family and Santa are white. A readable, mildly amusing story, but the message is obvious and the motivation is lacking. (Picture book. 4-7)

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July 1, 2018
The Christmas family loves Christmas: their bright lights short out the neighborhood, their tree dwarfs all others, and they buy tons of gifts. The excess doesn't jibe with daughter Mary; after a heart-to-heart with a mall Santa, she convinces her family to share their holiday trappings with the town. Bright mixed-media illustrations add festive warmth and humor, and they reinforce the message about true Christmas spirit.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)