Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Judy Moody is making a list and checking it twice, but all her brother, Stink, wants this year is snow. It hasn’t snowed on Christmas in Virginia in more than a hundred years, however, so what are the chances that that will change? Enter the new mailman, Mr. Jack Frost, who not only looks like a jolly old elf but also seems to know a lot about weather patterns, has a fondness for the cold, and works looooooong hours during the holiday season. Plus it’s the best time of the year, when strange packages and lots of surprises are swirling around, so isn’t it possible that Stink might get his wish? Fans who curl up with this new Moody comedy can be sure that their bellies will shake like a bowlful of jelly.

Children's Literature

It is December, so naturally Judy and her younger brother Stink are thinking of Christmas. Judy's list is so long she must use toilet paper to write on; her brother's list includes only one item: snow. Since they live in Virginia, it is not likely to happen. Things begin to look up for Stink when a new mailman shows up and encourages Stink's wish. His name is Jack Frost and he looks remarkably like Santa—chubby, white beard, red shirt, and hat. As the night of the school's Holly Jolly Holiday Happening approaches, the two are caught up in the excitement of their class's performance—with Stink altering his mouse costume into a snowflake as he concentrates his desire for snow. Judy takes things into her own hands as she creates a white Christmas for her brother. The siblings' banter often includes lyrics from songs of the season and their light-hearted teasing is totally realistic. The sparkly cover and brightly colored illustrations add to the festive mood. Reviewer: Peg Glisson

Children's Literature

Judy Moody made a T.P. list of what she wanted for Christmas. That is "a Totally Presents list" created on toilet paper, the only thing long enough to contain her whole list. Her younger brother, Stink, had a very short list. He wanted snow. When the new mailman, Jack Frost, tells Stink that he "can almost taste snow in the air," and delivers an anonymous package with mittens for the children, Stink is sure that his wish will come true. This is contrasted with Judy's class presentation: a song about Christmas in Hawaii —a far cry from the snow-filled traditional Christmas scenes. Peter Reynolds' full-page illustrations and McDonald's humorous quips and wordplay keep the story moving at a lively pace in this, the newest book in the series. Judy Moody's Christmas spirit and a little Christmas magic make this a delightful early chapter book for the season. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Fans of the Moodys will enjoy this holiday offering with its sparkly cover and full-color illustrations. All Stink wants for Christmas is snow, and that's not too likely in Virginia. But things begin to look up when a new mailman named Jack Frost (looking amazingly like Santa) shows up at the door and encourages Stink to "Think snow." Predictably the plot revolves around Christmas lists, holiday plays, and lots of wishing, with a big show of heart from Judy Moody at the end. Most enjoyable is the fast-paced dialogue and witty sister-and-brother banter that readers have come to expect. A surefire hit for the "jolidays."-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

First there was Judy and then there was Stink and now . . . they are together in their own book, filled with color illustrations and a sparkly, kid-attracting cover. For young readers who have learned to read with Judy and her brother, this is an event worth celebrating. All Stink wants for Christmas is SNOW. Judy, armed with her knowledge of Virginia weather patterns and the effects of global warming, tries to get Stink to ask for something reasonable. The arrival of a white-bearded, overweight letter carrier named Jack (Frost) gives Stink the extra amount of hope he needs. Judy, hoping to avert a muddy and moody Christmas, conspires to cheer up her brother with her own brand of snow. Some readers will miss the trademark brown-paper cover and sketched illustrations of the earlier books, but many will welcome the bright, color-drenched paintings as a little holiday magic. No matter the color, Judy and Stink's stories are always welcome for their humor and good spirit. (Fiction. 5-9)

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