Herbie's Secret Santa [Hardcover]

Petra Mathers (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Celebrate the holidays with Lottie and Herbie!

Dressed as Santa and humming a tune, Herbie is ready for Christmas. But when he does something bad -- and wishes he could take it back -- the holidays don't feel very happy. Children everywhere will sympathize with Herbie in Petra Mathers's new picture book, which shows how easy it is to make a mistake...and how hard it is to say you're sorry.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Petra Mathers looks straight into the hearts of kids with her warm, wonderful Lottie books (Lottie's New Beach Towel). Fortunately, some of her picture books also include the beloved chicken's best friend, Herbie the duck, the guilt-wracked star of Herbie's Secret Santa. Christmas preparations with Lottie are going swimmingly until Herbie can't resist the temptation to lick the red, shiny frosting off a Santa cookie at Ali Baba's bakery. After a few licks, the cookie breaks. Herbie panics and swallows the Santa whole! He is a thief! Of course, he's instantly sure that everyone in the world has x-ray vision and can see the cookie in his stomach. When someone says "Don't you look sweet, li'l Santa" (Herbie's wearing a Santa hat and boots just to be festive), he thinks she is talking to the cookie. Sure that he has lost his right to dress up as someone as noble as Santa, he buries his costume. Worse yet, he's sure he's lost Lottie's friendship, so he runs to her, confesses all, then returns to the scene of the crime to apologize: "Ihh-a stolehha-ha a Santahh, I'mha sorryhh." While neither Ali nor Baba is pleased, they assure him that they will like him again... after Christmas. And nothing could ruin the friendship of Lottie and Herbie, who can find the Christmas Star together in the "most wonderful World in the World!" Mather's small paintings are, as ever, winningly simple, but with plenty of tiny, funny details to ensure a new sighting with every read. A lovely holiday tale of irresistible frosting and even more delicious redemption. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Mathers (Lottie's New Beach Towel) brings back best pals Lottie the hen and Herbie the duck. This time out, 'tis the season for Herbie's "bottomless belly" to heed the irresistible call of holiday treats. While shopping with Lottie, Herbie gets a bit of Christmas stuck in his craw (literally) when he can't resist clandestinely munching on a Santa cookie at Ali Baba's bakery. The guilt over his actions quashes his holiday spirit until he sets things right. Mathers's snappy gouache depictions of these favorite fowl-appropriately clad in festive red hats and winter coats-are charming as ever. And Herbie's simple, joyful celebration with Lottie is the perfect denouement. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books; 1 edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689835507
• ISBN-13: 978-0689835506
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Different from the Standard Christmas Fare, March 21, 2009

By 

cejaxon "Constant Reader" (suburban USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herbie's Secret Santa (Hardcover)

I have three children, ages 8-19. After a certain number of Christmases, I realized that most Christmas stories (in books & on TV) have a similar plot line: the main character overvalues presents/material goods, learns presents don't matter, & then is rewarded with... a present! In this book, Herbie is a bit too into food, which leads to a lie, and then Herbie has to redeem himself, but at the end, he & Lottie celebrate by enjoying the wonder of the world itself.

My daughter (8) & I have loved Mathers for several years -- both her quirky tales and her art. On the surface, her art seems quite simplistic, but as you read her books again & again, you catch little details you hadn't noticed at first.

5.0 out of 5 stars Herbie does it again! Another great story from Petra Mathers., January 18, 2007

By 

Yvette Yasui "Noakai's Mama" (Brooklyn and Honolulu) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Herbie's Secret Santa (Hardcover)

We love the whole series of books based on the characters from Lotties World, including "Lottie's New Beach Towel", "A Cake For Herbie", "Dodo Gets Married" and "Herbie's Secret Santa".

Characters are very real, Herbie is not perfect and very lovable for his foibles. Illustrations are wonderful and the story is always charming and funny.

Great for all ages, we never get tired of reading these books to our 2 year old for whom they are favorites.