The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus (review)

Santa’s getting to that age when cynicism begins to take hold, and he’s wondering just who is this Harold kid, the kid to whom he’s supposedly been delivering toys all these years. Santa suspects that Harold’s mom writes his gift list and his dad leaves out the cookies, so maybe Harold isn’t even real. Meanwhile, young Harold is having some doubts of his own about the big man in red, and he’s seeking solid proof of his Santa’s existence come Christmas Eve. The text is simultaneously winking and cozy, so kids can enjoy the joke while still hanging onto some December belief. In the digitally created illustrations, Santa bears an entertaining likeness to an especially rotund, patterned Christmas ornament, if that ornament had a mouth in perpetual scowl and eyebrows knitted in suspicion; tiny little arms thrown up in frustration are a hilarious added bonus. Shades of greens and reds thread through the palette, and the illustrations retain plenty of holiday references (holly on Mrs. Claus’ skirt, decorative garland with funky lights in Harold’s house) without becoming unruly or cluttered. The scene in which Santa and Harold run to each other’s arms in unabashed joy will bring cheer to even the most jaded of nonbelievers.