Cupig Saves Christmas

PreS-Gr 2–Cupig, the pig who loves love, is back for a Christmas caper. When a sniffling, sneezing Santa needs help delivering Christmas presents, Cupig is happy to fill in. Flying off to the North Pole, Cupig ­receives a quick briefing on present delivery, but once on her way, things don’t go quite to plan. Distracted by seasonal treats and decorations, Cupig forgets the presents and leaves a trail of holiday havoc. Fortunately, a still-under-the-weather Santa catches her blunders and sends her back out to fix her mistakes. With renewed focus, Cupig manages to save Christmas and learns a lesson about the joy of giving along the way. The rhyming text is jolly, though the rhythm sometimes stumbles: “The Tooth Fairy’s at the dentist getting a cleaning. Cupig, will you please be Santa just for this evening?” Sayegh’s playful, bright illustrations add humor to every spread, expanding on Cupig’s mix-ups, which include tidying up the snack left for Santa and launching an arrow at a giant inflatable lawn decoration. The combination of Cupig’s over-confident approach to the task at hand and her well-intentioned bumbling make her a charming holiday hero.