Christmas Ahoy

June 16, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Holiday learning abounds in this adorable book about a holiday boat parade, a tradition in communities by the water where boat owners decorate their vessels with lights and holiday-themed materials. After dark, they drive an appointed route where parade-goers can watch and cheer. This book captures some of the fun of a holiday parade, showing the different kinds of boats and decorations that are traditionally part of the event. A counting component supports math skills, and the author's notes give detailed information about some of the boats. A minor storyline about a problem with Santa and the reindeer makes things even more interesting. Cheerful, folkloric style artwork lends a happy, family-oriented air. Readers will enjoy going back over the scenes to see the detailed pictures and talk about the different kinds of boats. VERDICT A fun, colorful addition to holiday shelves. -Debbie Tanner

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 28, 2023
Santa gets his sea legs in Dealey’s Christmassy concept book. Varied watercraft, including gondolas, paddle boards, tugboats, and many others, parade across green-blue spreads that count upward from one to 10 in rhyme as part of an apparent holiday parade. Boat types embrace holiday themes—there’s a “Sugar Plum Ferry” and “sweet gingerbread house boats”—and Stark festoons the myriad vessels with delicate twinkling lights, candy canes, ribbons, and the odd Christmas tree (or, in the case of one boat, “four surfboard trees”). After Santa’s barge fails to materialize, faces in the crowd, depicted with varied skin tones, look concerned, and jaunty rhymes provide detail: “Rumors abound! The crowd starts to chatter./ The judges look worried. What could be the matter?” Luckily, the reindeer and a pale-skinned Santa soon glide into sight, with a fishy twist appropriate to this merry maritime read. Back matter includes boat facts and history. Ages up to 5.

All kinds of boats light up the holiday boat parade at the harbor. "From starboard to port, the lighted boats shine. / The judges are ready. The boats get in line." The parade begins with one sailboat decorated to look like a lighthouse and covered with fairy lights. It's followed by two gondoliers singing songs of Christmases long ago. Then three tugboats gussied up to look like a train chug by the spectators. Surfboards lit up like Christmas trees, sugar plum "ferries," and "gingerbread" houseboats follow in their wake. But when eight paddling pirates shout "Christmas ahoy!" with no sign of Santa and the reindeer, the crowd starts to fear there will be no main event. Not to worry; the nine reindeer just needed a break (a yacht pulls into the harbor, with Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the crew relaxing on deck). And who's pulling Santa's barge? Ten flying fish, of course. Then fireworks light up the sky as all the boaters wish each other happy holidays. Dealey's unconventional (for most) holiday parade of boats will delight young nautical fans as they count one to 10 in rhyme, and Stark's watercolor-style illustrations seem to shimmer and shine like strings of Christmas lights. The group watching the parade features a wide range of skin tones. At the close, a two-page spread with information about the 14 types of watercraft shown adds an educational touch. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A harbor full of happy holidays. (glossary of boats) (Picture book. 2-8)

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