ISBN 1416917551 - Childrens' Christmas board books is pretty much the holy grail in my house this year, so Dora was a welcome find. Add to that the fact that this shape book actually has a specific shape (so many are just "not square", as if that's a shape), in the form of a Christmas tree, and I think this is the cutest book of the day.
While decorating, Dora hears something on the roof and, when she investigates, she finds a reindeer who says that Santa needs help. From fixing the toy machine to helping Santa find his suit, Dora is a big help. Santa takes her along as he leaves for his trip to deliver presents and Dora says he's coming to your house first!
The text, by Christine Ricci, is fairly simple and has a few words in Spanish, a nice educational bonus. On the other hand, the Spanish is just four words and could have been more. The illustrator, Piero Piluso, did a great job of capturing the style of the TV show in this book. The sparkly foil items on each page are a nice touch and the lift-able flaps hide small surprises that will engage young readers. The pages are sturdy board book cardboard and will stand up to much rough handling, but the flaps are thin cardboard and much easier to tear. Children, especially Dora fans, will enjoy helping her help Santa.
- AnnaLovesBooks