Oh, What Fun It Is! Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee

"YOU WANT A RIDE IN MY SLEIGH?" ASKED MR. HORSE.

WE DO, PLEASE, MR. HORSE!" SAYS CAT, AND DOG, AND PIG, AND DUCK.

"HOLD ON TIGHT!" SAYS MR. HORSE, AND OFF THEY GO...

JINGLE-JINGLE, JINGLE-JINGLE.

The familiar farm favorites from Nicola Smee's Clip-Clop are back, this time all decked out in Santa caps and sleigh bells, reading to go dashing through the snow, courtesy of the munificent Mr. Horse, who loads Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck into his open sleigh for a glide through the snow-covered fields.

But when they've jingle-crunched over the fields and come to a long hill, there's a change from the usual routine.

"CAN WE SLIDE DOWN THE HILL, PLEASE, MR. HORSE?" ASK CAT AND DOG AND PIG AND DUCK.

"VERY WELL," SAYS MR. HORSE. "IS THERE ROOM FOR ME?"

For the first time in sleigh-time history, the horse climbs into the sleigh with the other passengers and off they go on a jingle-swoosh ride--right into a snowman upon whom a rabbit has just put the finishing touches.

"LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT!

WHEEEEEEEEE!"

And in traditional fashion, this sleigh is definitely "upsot" as Cat, Dog, Pig, Duck, AND Mr. Horse find themselves flying through the air and into their own "drifted bank."

"THAT WAS SO COOL!" SAYS HAPPY MR. HORSE.

"COME ON, THEN, MR. HORSE!" SAY CAT AND DOG AND PIG AND DUCK.

AND OFF THEY GO AGAIN!

Nicola Smee's Jingle-Jingle (Boxer Books, 2008) takes the five friends for a holiday ride which will involve listening little ones with every step along the way. Smee's strong black line drawings touched with vibrant watercolors make this a jolly journey for the picture book set.