A Stickler Christmas

Starred review from August 15, 2024
Everyone's favorite multi-eyed forest denizen returns with abundant presents (we just hope you like sticks). Having shared an incredible love of nature and life itself inStickler Loves the World (2023), the titular hero--a rotund creature with sticklike limbs and hair--knows precisely what to get everyone for Christmas. Taking on a role that's usually filled by Santa, Stickler climbs astride Judy, a reindeer with treelike antlers, and delivers a Hop-Higher Stick to Rabbit, an Idea Stick to Crow, and an In-a-Pear-Tree Stick to Partridge (who's oblivious to the "Twelve Days of Christmas" reference). Upon encountering Doug-the-Fir, Stickler discovers that the introverted tree has been unwillingly trimmed and bedecked in a truly flashy manner. How can Stickler avert attention from shy Doug? Let us simply say that Stickler knows how to bring the glam when necessary. Smith leans hard into the oddest elements of the book ("It was a weird Christmas"), and readers wouldn't have it any other way. Stickler's love and care for its friends are oddly touching--in a sea of more saccharine winter holiday selections, this wildly funny, whimsical story stands out in all the best ways. Employing an eclectic combination of materials both traditional (gesso, oil, cold wax on canvas) and digital, Smith creates sweetly surreal visuals. Readers will chuckle at the instructions on the publication page explaining how to "Be a Stickler." To quote the strangest little fellow ever to star in its own Christmas picture book: "Joy."(Picture book. 3-6)

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Starred review from September 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-In this follow-up to Stickler Loves the World, Stickler is back in a tender holiday tale about gift giving, friendship, low-stakes sacrifice, and celebration. Stickler, a bundle of sticks with a heart of gold, makes Christmas joyfully weird as it gives gifts-sticks, of course-to friends, including Rabbit, Snowman, Partridge, and Doug-the-Fir. Everyone is in good spirits, except for Doug, who is "not one bit jolly" about being the center of attention as a Christmas tree. Stickler finds a solution to help its friend by donning Doug's decorations and singing "O Stickler Tree," "Jingle Sticks," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Stick," and "Little Drummer Stick," to take the spotlight off of Doug. Smith's mixed-media illustrations begin with a daytime palette that grows in contrast as night arrives with a showstopping reveal of Stickler draped in twinkle lights, garlands of popcorn, and ornaments. Emphasized facial features (googly eyes and squiggly, animated mouths) give characters emotional range, while fluffy snowflakes and winter landscapes wrap the story in seasonal cozy. Dynamic design adds interest to each page as perspectives zoom in and out and text placement moves; a playful font shift to Old English adds pizazz to Stickler's singing of "O Stickler Tree, how lovely are my branches!" VERDICT Amid many holiday book options that retell the same stories, Stickler stands out as a fresh expression of Christmas spirit.-Nora Clancy

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
Optimistic creature Stickler (Stickler Loves the World, rev. 9/23) is naturally now spreading yuletide cheer. "This Christmas, Stickler knew just what to give everyone." The answer is a stick, of course, specific to each recipient's needs (e.g., Rabbit receives a "Hop-Higher Stick"). Even Doug-the-Fir, who does not want to be a Christmas tree, gets his wish with a "Don't-Stare Stick" and a clever distraction by Stickler. The textured mixed-media illustrations are classic Smith, as is Leach's spirited design, and both complement the wacky quality of his humorous story, which ends sweetly with Stickler also receiving the perfect present (spoiler: it's a stick). Cynthia K. Ritter

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
Optimistic creature Stickler (Stickler Loves the World, rev. 9/23) is naturally now spreading yuletide cheer. "This Christmas, Stickler knew just what to give everyone." The answer is a stick, of course, specific to each recipient's needs (e.g., Rabbit receives a "Hop-Higher Stick"). Even Doug-the-Fir, who does not want to be a Christmas tree, gets his wish with a "Don't-Stare Stick" and a clever distraction by Stickler. The textured mixed-media illustrations are classic Smith, as is Leach's spirited design, and both complement the wacky quality of his humorous story, which ends sweetly with Stickler also receiving the perfect present (spoiler: it's a stick).

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)