WHO'LL PULL SANTA'S SLEIGH TONIGHT?

Never mind the title's seeming allusion to a certain red-nosed reindeer—Rader's sequel to Santa's New Suit leaves out Rudolph. Santa faces a dilemma: his flying team is under the weather, so he needs to rethink his Christmas Eve delivery plans. Several far-fetched attempts to find reindeer replacements prove fruitless, until a cup of Mrs. Claus's cocoa inspires a new solution. Although it has welcome dashes of silliness, this follow-up isn't as kicky or clever as its predecessor. But the talk bubbles and funny asides that pepper the ink-and-watercolor art buoy the comic mood. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)