Waiting for Santa

By Lucy Cochran & Heidi McKinnon

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey

Waiting for Santa is the debut picture book for Australian author Lucy Cochran, teamed up with author-illustrator Heidi McKinnon, whose previous works include the 2023 award winning Floof and 2022 CBCA Notable We Found a Cat. Together they have created a bright and cheeky book about … waiting.

Waiting to get to the shopping centre can take a long time. Waiting in line for a photo with Santa can take forever (7000 Elf steps, to be exact)! But in the middle of a very long line on a very busy day, little Harry has a great idea – let their sneaky cat Moloko loose to find Santa and find out why they have been waiting for so long. Calamity ensues as the two children follow Moloko’s trail of chaos to find Santa, while Mum and Dad remain oblivious.

A sweet, silly story about how boring waiting can be, and that sometimes patience pays off (for the parents) and sometimes a little adventure is called for (for the kids). And that cats bring their own special style to every situation (the real hero of this story), even when they aren’t supposed to be there. Short, clear text is paired with bright and engaging illustrations that highlight how long and boring waiting can feel, but why so many families make the effort for that special photo each year.

Pure and simple, this holiday tale is a good reminder of how different a situation can look from a child’s point of view. Waiting for Santa would make a lovely addition to any young child’s holiday reading collection. Suitable for children 3-6 years old.

Albert Street Books 2024

Heidi McKinnon