"Lewis once again shows his nimble way with rhyme and wordplay, writing in a variety of forms. ...The colorful artwork has a jovial quality that heightens enjoyment of the light verse."
     —Booklist

"Affable wit and infectious cadence bring fresh energy to traditional Yuletide images. Employing a variety of poetic forms, from limerick to concrete poem, Lewis limits himself to fairly simple rhyme schemes but keeps things lively with generous dollops of enjambment. ...Shepperson’s brightly shaded, borderline cartoon-y illustrations balance humor with warmth."
     —Horn Book

"Some poems are quick and short and funny, and others use a longer format to examine topics such as waiting up on Christmas Eve or a favorite cat's behavior on Christmas morning. Shepperson's quirky illustrations in watercolor and ink complement each poem with a variety of illustration sizes, and he includes children of different ethnic groups as well as a female elf in a key role (in the titular poem) and in the cover illustration."
     —Kirkus Reviews