Santa Paws to the Rescue

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Synopsis

It's Christmas again, the Callahan family's favorite time of the year, and this year, they're staying home in their small town of Oceanport. The only problem is that the storm of the century is predicted to hit the area right before the holiday. When it arrives, Gregory is at an away game with his basketball team, and Patricia is stuck at school on detention. Meanwhile Mrs. Callahan has decided to do some last minute Christmas shopping at the mall, which ends up with her in a particularly hazardous accident on the way home. When his family doesn't arrive home when expected, Mr. Callahan is beside himself with worry over their safety. However, the family's dog, Santa Paws, isn't about to let the ones he loves down. With his new friend, Abigail the cat, in tow, Santa Paws heads out into the treacherous ice storm to do whatever he must to save, not only his family, but everyone he comes across who's in need of help.

Review

Santa Paws to the Rescue is the fourth book in Nicholas Edwards's Santa Paws series. This time the Callahan family is staying home in Oceanport for Christmas, but with just a couple of days left to go before the holiday, a major ice storm is being predicted for this small oceanfront town. On the day the storm hits, oldest daughter Patricia is stuck late at school for detention and doesn't want her parents to know, so she attempts to walk home. Son Gregory is at an away game for his basketball team and the bus slides off the road on the way home. Mrs. Callahan goes out after school to get some last-minute gift shopping done, and ends up in an accident in a remote part of town when a tree falls on her car. Meanwhile, Mr. Callahan is at home worrying about his family when they don't arrive back at the expected time and ends up going out searching for them. Santa Paws senses his concern and begins to worry, too. When another tree falls on their house, breaking a window, Santa Paws, along with his new cat friend, Abigail, also head out in search of their family. Along the way, Santa Paws rescues many other people from perilous circumstances. Even after his family is found and back at home, safe and sounds, Santa Paws continues his quest to make sure everyone in Oceanport who needs help is rescued.

Each book in the Santa Paws series has been a fun adventure and Santa Paws to the Rescue was definitely no exception. Because Santa Paws ends up helping a lot of people, I thought this one was rather reminiscent of the Lassie movies and television show. Santa Paws may be spending this Christmas at home, but when the ice storm hits, there's no shortage of people to find and rescue. The members of the Callahan family are his first priority, but with his doggie senses constantly alert for danger, he helps many others in need along the way. I like that Abigail, the cat he rescued and brought home in the previous book, Santa Paws, Come Home, accompanies him. Unlike Santa Paws, though, she doesn't have a hero complex and ends up being a little disdainful of their mission and the cold. She mainly goes along just to annoy him. They make a humorous duo, though, making me chuckle a few times. I think it's rather cute that everyone in town knows Santa Paws and trusts his instincts. The Callahans have just come to accept that when he runs off, it's for a good reason and trust him to come back when he's ready. Whenever he goes to the people in uniform looking for help, they follow him without question. He's even famous enough that the radio news reports on some of his saves during the storm. All of this might not be entirely realistic, but it does make for an entertaining and festive story. Given that I, as an adult, have enjoyed these books so much, I can't imagine that the middle-schoolers at which they're aimed wouldn't appreciate them, too, especially if they're partial to adventurous stories with animal characters. I look forward to continuing the series next holiday season.

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Nicholas Edwards aka Ellen Emerson White