Herbie's Secret Santa

I have three children, ages 8-19. After a certain number of Christmases, I realized that most Christmas stories (in books & on TV) have a similar plot line: the main character overvalues presents/material goods, learns presents don't matter, & then is rewarded with... a present! In this book, Herbie is a bit too into food, which leads to a lie, and then Herbie has to redeem himself, but at the end, he & Lottie celebrate by enjoying the wonder of the world itself. My daughter (8) & I have loved Mathers for several years -- both her quirky tales and her art. On the surface, her art seems quite simplistic, but as you read her books again & again, you catch little details you hadn't noticed at first.

We love the whole series of books based on the characters from Lotties World, including "Lottie's New Beach Towel", "A Cake For Herbie", "Dodo Gets Married" and "Herbie's Secret Santa". Characters are very real, Herbie is not perfect and very lovable for his foibles. Illustrations are wonderful and the story is always charming and funny. Great for all ages, we never get tired of reading these books to our 2 year old for whom they are favorites.