Welcome back to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
I hope you all enjoyed Tuesday’s glimpse into Dara Henry’s creation of HANUKKAH PAJAMAKKAHS. It seems I’m on a bit of a holiday roll because this is the time of year when holiday books are released and I happened to get Penny Klostermann’s new book, MERRY CHRISTMAS, DEAR MARS on Tuesday and it’s so good I must share it immediately even though it is September! 🙂
It is so well written and so fun – I know you’re going to love it! – and I am especially fond of it because Penny wrote the first version of it for the very first Holiday Contest on my blog back in 2011. It has undergone quite a bit of revision since then to become the fabulous book it is today, but it all began with the Holiday Contest, so let that be an inspiration to you! 🙂
Title: Merry Christmas, Dear Mars
Written By: Penny Parker Klostermann
Illustrated By: Estrela Lourenço
Publisher: Godwin Books, September 3, 2024, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: holiday (Christmas), space/Mars, humor
text copyright Penny Parker Klostermann 2024, illustration copyright Estrela Lourenço 2024, Godwin Books
Opening:
“‘Twas the night before Christmas in far outer space.
The merry ol’ moon wore a smile on his face.
The glitter and twinkle from millions of stars
lent hope to our hearts on the red planet Mars.”
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “It’s Christmas Eve. The Martians have hung their stockings and decorated their trees in hopes that Santa will finally visit the red planet. But what are the excited Martians to do when Santa’s sleigh shudders and shimmies and stops? Then teeters and totters and drops? It’ll take a dose of Christmas magic and some help from the Outer Space Rescue Division to get this holiday back on track.”
Links To Resources: give your child(ren) or group of students a challenge: Santa’s sleigh is broken and he needs a new one fast! Design and build a sleigh out of provided materials! plastic or paper cups, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, pasta wheels, small cardboard boxes, toilet paper or paper towel tubes, fabric, yarn, aluminum foil, etc…
text copyright Penny Parker Klostermann 2024, illustration copyright Estrela Lourenço 2024, Godwin Books
Why I Like This Book: I don’t just like this book. I LOVE it! So. Much. Fun!!! The folks on Mars have been patiently waiting for Santa to visit them, writing letters, decorating their homes, hanging their stockings, each year hoping Santa will arrive. But Mars is WAY out there, and so far Santa hasn’t made it. THIS year, however, there is a sudden ROAR! Santa is coming! But alas! There is a sleigh malfunction! Major trouble! Luckily, Mars is inhabited by tech and engineering geniuses who are only too happy to help. They get to work, not only repairing the sleigh but giving it an upgrade, ensuring Santa’s safe return every year thereafter. The story is such fun to read aloud – the rhyme and meter spot on from start to finish. And there are so many fun details in the text and in the art (which is so cute and engaging!). From orbiter beds to cocoa dispensers to mistletoe modules and sugar plum panels. So imaginative! This is the best new Christmas book I’ve read in a long time! Kids are going to LOVE IT!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Zooming into the illustrations and text, I have to agree, this is really cute. Santa on Mars, such a great concept. We do need a little Christmas right now. Thanks for sharing and brightening our spirits.♥️
This is one not to miss, Robin! Fabulous in every way!
Susanne, I’ve been waiting to read this book. Now, I’m even more excited. Great review and endorsement! Thanks.
You are going to LOVE it, Maria! It is so good!
This is one of those fabulous “Why didn’t I think of that” books – but done in the best possible style and rhyme. A story time delight.
It absolutely is, Robin! So well written! The story and the art are delightful!
Delighted to have a new book from Penny to look forward to!
I love her other books, Cathy, but I think this is my favorite so far! So well done!
This looks like such a clever and fun book. Thanks for the review!
It’s fabulous, Deborah! Ask your library to get a copy!
I love how this story came from your holiday writing contest! Your contests are my favorite! 😊
Aw, you’re so sweet, Bri! I love that it came from the contest, too! And not the first one! We’ve had quite a few at this point!
My story from your mix-n-match last year is going to be published (yay!) and my story from the last holiday contest is going in sub next week! 😊
Oh my goodness! That is fantastic! if you can share any details, please email me! And if you already have and I’ve forgotten, please forgive my sieve brain! 🙂
Sent you an email! 😊
UH-mazing! I love it! And to think that it began right here on this blog! Hurray! Congratulations, Penny!
Seriously do not miss this one, Angie! It is so much fun!
So unique!!!
What a winner, Susanna!! The rhyme, the whole concept, the illustrations, all look and sound amazing! Congrats to Penny and Estrela!
They really did a fantastic job, Jilanne! The text is amazing, and the art is so perfect and full of fun details for kids to search out. So clever and fun!
Susanna! Thank you soooo much for featuring Merry Christmas, Dear Mars! I’m really glad that you love it. It has had a long journey which started right here many years ago.
This is the manuscript that made me believe that I could actually be published some day. That happened when it won runner-up for the 2012 SCBWI Barbara Karlin WIP grant (back when it was called that).
The sparks of imagination I got from your contest prompts inspired me to write many entries over the years. Of course, not all will become published books BUT all of them contributed to the ongoing journey/challenge to write engaging picture book manuscripts.
Estrela Lourenço’s art thrills me every time I look at any part of the book! Our collaboration is an example of two creatives coming together to make the very best book possible. I made changes after I saw her art and was able to see that she’d covered some concerns I had about how things on Mars would give a nod to the original while also depicting a Mars Christmas.
Thanks again!
It is truly my pleasure to share this book, Penny! SO MANY kids are going to love it! (Adults too, if my reaction is anything to go by! 🙂 ) Thank you for sharing a little more about the book’s journey here for folks on this blog to see! And congratulations again on this winner of a book!
Wow! This is so fun! Fabulous concept, rollicking rhyme, and adorable art. Congrats, Penny!
It is fabulous in every way, Gabi! No doubt about that! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this book with me (us!). Can’t wait to read the whole book! Congrats to Penny and Estrela!
You’re welcome, Julie!!! You will LOVE IT!!! Definitely a great choice for story time if you’re still doing that!
The Merry Christmas, Dear Mars books I ordered have already arrived. I don’t think I can wait for Christmas to give them as gifts. They are darling!
Isn’t the book just terrific, Carole? I love it!
Looks out-of-this-world! Can’t wait to read it!
It is out of this world clever, fun, creative, everything, Patricia!
How fun! I love the creative twist!
This looks SO fun! I really can’t wait to read it – and we were just talking about holiday books, weren’t we?
From one Mars enthusiast whose husband works at NASA to another, this one looks like so much fun. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for sharing this book! The illustrations look amazing and the story so super creative! I’ll recommend it to our library. I think I will purchase a copy for myself as well. Who can resist a Holiday story?!?!
🎅
Just adorable!! Thanks for sharing! Will definitely request in my library! Would love to write a review as well!
Congrats to Penny and Estrela. This book sounds phenomenal. And, as many others have said, I love that it had its roots in your holiday contest, Susanna.
Can’t wait to read this rhyming picture book and give it as a gift to many. It sounds like it has many fabulous layers!