One thing I try to do every year is to find at least three Christmas books and at least one other winter holiday book. The Christmas books I try to find are a religious one, a more fun one (Santa, or silly reindeer have been in the past) and an Other book (maybe spiritual but it hits the spirit of things). I try to find one Hanukkah and one Winter Solstice, or something that is a holiday and/or just fun. This year I found a Krampus story that fits a couple categories.
Usually Krampus stories are spooky and not very nice. Oh, I’ve found a board book that was a baby Krampus character once, but usually they are not for kids and I do not care for them. This year, however, I found Tonight Is Krampus Night! by Kyle Sullivan and illustrated by Zoe Persico. In the spirit of “Night Before Christmas” Sullivan makes a funny story about how one young child knows what night it is. It is the night Krampus comes to punish the bad boys and girls. Our child knows he hasn’t been on the best behavior, but is he really that bad?
The other parts include other holiday and spiritual characters. Even Dickens and Marley make an appearance. It is more about the Season, not just Krampus, but yes, Krampus and what they do is the focus of things. It is creative and clever, but also has a different take on the Christmas season. There is a short extra that explains who (or what) the other paranormal characters are. Things are lighthearted, even if the illustrations are physically dark with the use of colors and shadows. I think this might be my non-spiritual and/or Christmas-Christmas story
However, you do not have to wait too long to add this to your own collection as it is due early October 2025. I had to read via an online reader copy, but I think I might have to find a couple of copies for a gift or two.