Santa’s reindeer have had it with their stressful working conditions, so they unionize to demand better pay and lighter loads. Santa decides to solve his labor shortage by posting ads and hiring some other sort of animal to do the heavy lifting. He tries dogs, cats, flamingos, kangaroos and elephants before deciding that the reindeer really do the best job. Santa promises them all sorts of perks—a whirlpool and cable television, for example—and he and the reindeer sign a lifetime contract (without legal representation, it must be noted). The rhyming text has a singsong rhythm and doesn’t always scan, but Ho’s characters are appealing and stand out—literally—with a raised texture on the heavy, coated-paper pages. The concept of collective bargaining brings an educational aspect to a mildly amusing story. (Picture book. 3-7)
