How could a new teacher be so old wonder the students on the first day of the school year. “My name is Hubert Noël,” he tells them. “Ever since I was young . . . people have called me Santa.” He presents each child with a gift-wrapped package, and inside is a book of coupons. “One coupon for being late to school . . . One coupon for losing your homework . . . One coupon for not listening in class . . . One coupon for copying from your neighbor . . . One coupon for getting out of trouble . . . One coupon for singing at the top of your lungs whenever you like.” The coupon book is just the first of many wonderful surprises the children have in store over the course of a remarkable school year in Monsieur Noël’s class. Their teacher may look old, but he is young of heart and mind. He respects and challenges them, and they respond to all the gifts — of knowledge, of attention, of experience, of love — that he has to offer. Susie Morgenstern’s short, charming, full-hearted novel is set in France, where the U.S.-born author lives. (Ages 9–12)