Santa's Underwear - Hardcover

Midwest Book Review"Santa's Underwear" is a jolly romp in the theme of Christmas (in July, even), specifically in the theme of appropriate Christmas underwear for the chief player, Santa Claus. It is approaching Christmas Eve, and Santa is going through his usual ritual preparation, including bubble bath, healthy dinner, and underwear selection. But wait, there is a serious problem! Santa's favorite worn, holey, red long johns are nowhere to be found. No other underwear will quite do, though Santa tries on some funny ones! All through Santa's pre-show routine, buckets of mischievous elves are sniggering, helping, laughing and kidding him. Santa's valets are a comedy show all their own! There is even a stray reindeer in the underwear closet. But wait, what is the surprise that awaits Santa on his special night? Kids will love this adorably funny Christmas story for all its kooky details and for its underlying message of love. The illustrations add all the joy that can be imagined to this funny holiday tale.

Kirkus Reviews
There's nothing like underwear jokes to get kids giggling, and this funny story focuses on Santa's entire underwear collection and which set he will wear on Christmas Eve.
The cover shows a nearly nude white Santa displaying his rotund belly and a too-small pair of turquoise undies, with two elves laughing hysterically. The story opens on Christmas Eve with Santa eating a healthy dinner, taking a bath, and combing his long, snow-white beard. He is assisted at every step by a crew of cute elves in green and candy-cane-striped suits, his helpers including both elves of color and female elves. (Hurray for elf equality!) Trouble ensues when Santa can't find his favorite set of "old, faded, and saggy" long underwear and finally decides on his green, shamrock-sprinkled long johns. When he opens his closet to put on his red suit, he finds a new set of bright red long underwear, a Christmas gift from his reindeer. Rudolph can be spotted in several illustrations setting up this surprise for Santa. The slight mystery is well-paced, and the different sets of underwear set up some laughter, along with the cavorting elves. Soft-focus illustrations in watercolor and pencil are mostly full-page in size, making this a fine choice for reading aloud to a group. 
A troupe of entertaining elves, a jolly Santa, and lots of underwear jokes add up to Christmas chuckles in this engaging story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publisher's WeeklyOn their own, Santa and underwear are generally picture book winners; together, they'll keep kids plenty amused--and hoping their own Christmas gifts don't include much underwear.
 

PreS-Gr 1—Okay, we get that underpants are funny, and the idea that Santa can't find his long underwear when he's getting dressed on Christmas Eve should be as amusing as the elves apparently find it in the illustrations. But, really, the idea just isn't enough to carry a book. Santa's spalike preparations and his various holiday-themed underwear lead to a weak payoff, as the reindeer have replaced his raggedy union suit as a surprise. VERDICT Kelley's watercolor cartoons are nicely done and humorous, but the story is just too one-dimensional.—Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library