From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3–When Santa invites his family and his friend Lars for Christmas dinner, things get a little raucous. Children will find funny details to appreciate in dePaola's signature drawings–executed here in a red and green palette–and lively narrative, with dialogue-balloon asides. The result is a fun celebration complete with Lars's pet polar bear and a flaming plum pudding.–V. W. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. No one ever thinks about Santa's extended family--Aunt Astrid, Cousin Ulla, or Brother Boris--but Santa does. One year he decides to invite everyone for Christmas dinner at the North Pole. While Mrs. C. gets things ready at home, Santa takes off to deliver presents on Christmas Eve, but returns just in time to greet all the relatives, including kids who complain about what Santa forgot to bring them, and his dear friend Lars, who brings his pet polar bear, Oscar. As it turns out, Santa's holiday is like many people's holidays--utter chaos. Arguments about everything from the TV set to new ways of mashing potatoes fly faster than Santa's sleigh. The part comic strip-style format cleverly reflects the busy, everyone-talk-at-once hum of a big family gathering and serves up plenty of funny asides. Warm and wonderful as Christmas cake fresh out of the oven, dePaola's softly hued, rounded illustrations shine with holiday spirit. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus are having their entire family over for Christmas dinner. There's Uncle Alfred the inventor from Bermuda; Sister Olga the opera singer; eight young children, including Baby Willie; even a polar bear named Oscar. With a family like this, mayhem is bound to follow, and from a snowball fight to the Christmas pageant to the meal itself, it's a wild affair. But in the spirit of the season, everyone has a wonderful time--even the frazzled hosts! With its brightly colored illustrations, a playful speech-bubble narrative, and a story bursting with humor and seasonal cheer, Guess Who's Coming to Santa's for Dinner is sure to be a holiday favorite for the whole family

ANNOTATION

A houseful of relatives turns "Mrs. C." and Santa's Christmas into a string of surprises, from the arrival of a pet polar bear to Cousin James B.'s flaming plum pudding.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus are having their entire family overfor Christmas dinner. There's Uncle Alfred the inventor from Bermuda; Sister Olga the opera singer; eight young children, including Baby Willie; even a polar bear named Oscar. With a family like this, mayhem is bound to follow, and from a snowball fight to the Christmas pageant to the meal itself, it's a wild affair. But in the spirit of the season, everyone has a wonderful time—even the frazzled hosts!
With its brightly colored illustrations, a playful speech-bubble narrative, and a story bursting with humor and seasonal cheer, Guess Who's Coming to Santa's for Dinner is sure to be a holiday favorite for the whole family

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The table's set for family fun with all the fixings-and fussing-that come with holiday gatherings when Santa decides to invite all his relatives to Christmas dinner. A surprised but supportive Mrs. C. gets things in order while "Nick" delivers toys. Soon the house guests include a few whiny nieces and nephews, a diva sister and a kleptomaniac Cousin Ulla. Everyone's offers of "help," and an unexpected polar bear guest keep the raucous repast rolling. DePaola's (Strega Nona) successful recipe of humor, family wamth and universal situations works to delicious effect. Comical talk balloons and Cousin Ulla's swiping of Claus goods on each spread add a dash of holiday hilarity. Ages 4-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

It is good to know that Santa's family is as messy as most people's. Santa gets the hare-brained idea to invite the whole gang plus an old friend over for a Christmas dinner, despite Mrs. Claus' concern that it might not be the best plan. Whiny nephews and nieces (they did not get what they wanted for Christmas, and at least get to whine to the actual source), butt-inski aunts and uncles who tell Mrs. Claus how to cook, and drama queens who consider the family the perfect stage are all familiar characters to most readers. And do not forget old friend Lars, who insists on bringing his pet along, in this case an enormous polar bear! The chaos is lovingly depicted in dePaola's trademark, colorful illustrations. Everyone agrees it was a great Christmas after all, but you cannot blame the Clauses for hanging out a "Do Not Disturb" sign at the end. 2004, G. P. Putnam/Penguin, Ages 3 to 8.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-When Santa invites his family and his friend Lars for Christmas dinner, things get a little raucous. Children will find funny details to appreciate in dePaola's signature drawings-executed here in a red and green palette-and lively narrative, with dialogue-balloon asides. The result is a fun celebration complete with Lars's pet polar bear and a flaming plum pudding.-V. W. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews