Santa’s Story

On Christmas Eve, Santa is ready to go, but his reindeer are off strutting their own alliterative stuff: “Dasher dashed,” “Prancer pranced,” “Vixen vexed,” “Blitzen boasted,” and “Cupid crooned” into a microphone (“It’ll be a kissin’ Christmas!”). Finally, Santa spies Comet holding a book and realizes that he’s forgotten a crucial annual ritual: reading “The Night Before Christmas” to his coursers, who apparently have no intention of pulling the sleigh without hearing the poem. After he complies, the reindeer happily lift off, towing Santa and his bag of goodies while gift-holding animals look on from the ground. Hillenbrand reveals the spirited goings on in snowy, buoyant digital pictures featuring expressive reindeer and a jolly Santa who would be right at home in an animated movie. A light and cheery holiday tribute to tradition and storytelling. Ages 3–7. [em](Sept.) [/em]