The Great Santa Search
by Jeff Guinn with illustrations by Mark Hoffer (Penguin, $18.95)

Christmas is not so much about believing in Santa Claus as it is about trusting in the spirit of St. Nick.

In this third installment in Jeff Guinn's series of The Christmas Chronicles, we learn the history of Santa as told by the Jolly Elf himself. Accompanied by comical illustrations, Santa describes how his image has suffered from commercialization and explains his efforts to clean up that faulty premise.

This year, the red-suit guy faces his biggest challenge--serving as a contestant on "The Great Santa Search," a new reality TV show. In front of a live audience, contenders, such as the real Santa, compete in holiday-appropriate tasks, including chimney sliding, cookie eating, and stocking stuffing. This funny story is sure to renew a sense of the true holiday spirit in readers. -- Allison Barnes