Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Christmas with Rita and Whatsit
Illustrator: Olivier Tallec
Picture Book Series
For ages 4 to 8
Chronicle Books, 2009 ISBN: 978-0811866811
It is Christmas Eve and Rita and Whatsit still have so much to do. Rita writes a letter to Santa and then they decorate the tree. As is usual with Rita and Whatsit, they have very different ideas about how a tree should be decorated. Thankfully Whatsit has his own Christmas tree which he can decorate as he wishes. This means that his tree has “a garland of sausages, slices of salami, and some bologna.” As far as Whatsit is concerned, his tree is just right.
Next Rita makes her special “no-bake” Christmas cake, which she and Whatsit put outside for Santa. What Rita does not know yet is that this is one cake that Santa is not likely to sample.
In this charming Rita and Whatsit book, the little girl and her dog once again entertain us with their everyday little adventures, their disagreements, and their happy moments. A simple text is perfectly complimented by minimal and deliciously amusing illustrations.
