Reviewed by Laura Imaz for Readers' Favorite

Arun Narayanan's Saving Santa is the story of Lucy Goodshoe, an energetic and hardworking young elf who works at North Pole Industries and eventually gets her dream job as an assistant to Santa Claus himself. At first, she's overjoyed to have accomplished her goals, but she soon realizes that not everything that glitters is gold. After realizing that Santa does not have the Christmas enthusiasm she expected and that his second in command, Rudy Rednose, plans to replace all the elves with worker robots, Lucy begins to question whether her employment is worthwhile. Will she be able to restore Santa's magic? Can Lucy and her friends save Christmas before it's too late?

Saving Santa offers readers a unique twist on the standard Christmas-themed picture book. Arun Narayanan manages to surprise and enchant both parents and children with Lucy's hilarious and fast-paced adventure. I also believe Lucy exemplifies every young child's enthusiasm for Christmas, so that children may readily identify with this wonderful character. I was captivated by the visuals on each page, as well as by the comic-like organization of the scenes, which is not typically seen. I also liked Arun's subtle condemnation of major corporations' working methods: the little importance they place on individuals, and their urge to maximize profits even if the product's soul is lost. It's not often that you come across a children's book that's equally amusing and significant, so I couldn't think of a better way to spend the holidays!