Yule books set to warm little hearts

Chrissie is Santa's kid — and not in the way that you, your child, your nephew and the rest of the people in the world are Santa's kids.

Chrissie is the real thing, the offspring of Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

She spends her days at the North Pole, hanging with the elves and feeding the reindeer.

In her memoir called "SantaKid" (Little, Brown, $18.99, ages 3-6), written with a little help from best-selling mystery writer James Patterson and illustrated by Michael Garland, the bright-eyed girl with a red hat, scarf and boots gives young readers the skinny on her dad (no jolly mounds of fat except at Christmastime) and what happens to the Toy Workshop when corporate conglomerate The Exmas Express buys the North Pole.

Mean Warrie Ranson wants to change the holiday from Christmas to "Exmas" and replace Santa's sleigh with a fleet of 18-wheelers, but Chrissie springs into action to save the day, repeating her father's mantra, "You have to believe," all the way.

Jolly old St. Nick is the main character in several of the new Christmas picture books, but so are generous animals, big-hearted children and the new baby king in Bethlehem.

"The Last Straw" (Talewinds/Charlesbridge, $15.95, ages 4-8) by Frederick H. Thury and illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen is adapted from a Thury's original libretto, which was performed by the Toronto Children's Chorus. It's the story of Hoshmakaka, a semiretired camel who complains of sciatica but nonetheless is chosen by the Wise Men to deliver gifts to the newborn king.

Each merchant, baker and miller he passes adds something to his load, but, miraculously, the burden gets lighter. Or, perhaps, the camel gets stronger.

The late Margaret Wise Brown had a way with simple storytelling, and "Christmas in the Barn" (HarperCollins, $15.99, ages 3-7) is no exception.

The book, which offers a childlike interpretation of the Nativity story in the rhythm that will be familiar to fans of Brown's "Big Red Barn," was first published in 1952, and this edition features bright, cheerful illustrations by Diane Goode.

"Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale" (McElderry, $15.95, ages 3-7) by Martin Waddel also has a Nativity theme but it emphasizes that all are welcome at the stable on Christmas Eve, especially a tired donkey who brings with him a weary Mary and Joseph.

The soft-style illustrations by Jason Cockcroft are flecked with color that adds both a brightness and warmth.