The magical companion to Auntie Claus follows Auntie Claus's favorite nephew, Christopher Kringle, who doesn't believe that she is really Santa Claus's sister--even after his sister Sophie confirms it--as he sets out to get on the Bad-Boys-and-Girls List to see for himself! 150,000 first printing. The companion book to Elise Primavera's much-celebrated Auntie Claus , Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas , gives Sophie Kringle's younger brother, Christopher, a turn in the starring role. Finally, Chris will learn the Kringle family secret--that his great-aunt Auntie Claus, inhabitant of penthouse 25C of New York City's Bing Cherry Hotel, is Santa Claus's older sister! When Chris overhears someone say that only babies believe in Santa Claus--and then repeats the rumor!--he is immediately summoned by Auntie Claus for tea, marmalade cake, and a talking-to. During teatime he learns of the PRUNES--Parade Rainers United National Elite Society (people who would dare to say there's no Santa) as well as the B-B-and-G List (Bad-Boys-and-Girls) that Santa makes each year. Taking it all with a grain of salt, Chris decides to use the scientific method: he'll behave so boorishly that he'll get on the List--if he still gets presents, he'll know it's all a hoax. Sophie attempts to demystify Christmas for him once and for all, sending him up in a magical elevator to the North Pole where he discovers (1) he made the List, (2) PRUNES exist, and (3) Santa exists. Sharing some of the smart-alecky humor of Jon Scieszka's Time Warp Trio series (Ozzie and Pam Spam are on tour promoting their new book We're Geniuses and Yer Not! , for instance), Auntie Claus then dashes the comparison with a sweet-as-cherry-pie maxim--"the best things are invisible"--which also happens to be the key to Christmas. Once again the whimsical, grand, richly colored paintings steal the limelight in this o'er complicated holiday tale. Still, those enchanted by the first Auntie won't want to miss it. (Ages 6 and older) --Karin Snelson Kindergarten-Grade 3-This lighthearted sequel to Auntie Claus (Harcourt, 1999) continues the adventures of Santa's extended family, the Kringles, who enjoy a life of luxury in the Bing Cherry Hotel in New York City. This time it is her nephew, Kris, who is the focus of the story. After hearing the precocious Spam twins declare that there is no Santa Claus, he, too, begins to doubt and goes on a campaign to be listed on the dreaded Bad Boys and Girls List. His sister Sophie sends him to the North Pole on Auntie's magic elevator, where he encounters the other Bad Boys and Girls, PRUNES (members of the Parade Rainers United National Elite Society) disguised as Snowboys, and ultimately declares his belief in Santa Claus after all. The wordplay and stylish jewel-toned illustrations will appeal to sophisticated adults as well as to kids who, like Kris, say, "I'll believe it when I see it."-V. W. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. ELISE PRIMAVERA has illustrated many books for children, including the bestselling Auntie Claus , which she also wrote, and Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen, which was honored with the Christopher Award. She lives in New Jersey.