Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas!

Everyone loves Christmas, but when your last name is Christmas, you love it even more. The Christmas family's celebrations diminish those of their neighbors, and this has begun to bother young Mary. She scorns the overabundance and wonders if there is 'such thing as too much Christmas?' Mary seeks the advice of a wise mall Santa who opens her eyes to the true meaning of the day. This contemporary tale is timely and filled with relatable characters. The message that one person can bring about positive change, no matter the situation, is triumphant, and the idea that the holidays are for sharing is beautifully presented. Readers will root for Mary as she tries to shape her families' spirit into something everyone can enjoy. The colorful illustrations add to the merriment. A merry selection, just perfect for storytimes highlighting the true meaning of Christmas.--School Library Journal

Mary Christmas wishes that the other members of the her family were a bit less fanatical during the holidays: her parents and siblings pick a tree so big that it shoots through the roof of their house, they short-circuit the neighborhood with their light display, and the pile of presents in their shopping cart is an avalanche waiting to happen. When Mary confides in Santa about her feelings, he suggests that maybe she can find a way to embrace (and spread) her family's enthusiasm. She does so by persuading them to share their celebration with the larger community in the local park--tree, gifts, and all. Durst's kinetic mixed-media cartoons convey the family's over-the-top enthusiasm with humor and understanding as Friedman makes the case that the best thing to do with abundance is to share it.--Publishers Weekly