Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers (review)

Christmas is coming, and Nicholas Duck (see Santa Duck, BCCB 10/08) is preparing happily for his now-official Santa's helper duties. Spoiling the day, however, are Nicholas' little brothers and sisters, who insist that they get to be Santa's helpers too ("We can help Santa if we wanna!"), and who competitively overpromise to all the animals (the beaver gets promised a chainsaw—no, a bulldozer—no, Hoover Dam). When Nicholas tries to explain to his unwelcome assistants that they're missing the true love-and-goodwill spirit of Christmas, though, his little bro promptly skewers Nicholas with his own moral: "Do you mean like being nice to your brothers … and letting them help Santa even if you think you're some kind of important big shot?" Um, yeah. The relationship between Nicholas and his sibs is both true to life and funny, with the speech-balloon dialogue veering between hilariously apt and hilariously silly; the siblings are pestiferous enough to ensure sympathy for Nicholas but right enough to completely score their point. The digitally created illustrations, in line and "digital oil pastel" colors, are robust, clean-lined, and spacious; the flexible, weirdly upright ducks, funny enough in their own right, are even more giggle-worthy in their failed attempts at elfy outfits (the wizard getup is particularly amusing). The message is closer to practical home than a lot of airier holiday wishes, but it's so entertaining in context that kids won't feel preached at, and everybody will be happy to join in on a concluding chorus of "Jingle Quack."