The Great Santa Stakeout by author Betsy Bird and illustrator Dan Santat
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: September 3, 2019
Just looking at the cover of this picture book with its full moon in the background and in the foreground a boy dressed in a Santa Claus suit, eyes bulging, teeth clenched and hands clamped on a Santa Claus snow globe makes My Book Eyes roar with laughter. Is he thinking, “I’m going to get you, SANTA!” Turning pages, the reader learns the boy, Freddy Melcher, not only celebrates Santa Claus during the Christmas season but all year. He is so fascinated with Santa Claus that yes he does want to get Santa. That is a selfie with Santa Claus when he visits Freddy’s house. Illustrations convince the reader of Freddy’s attraction to Santa.