"How the Reindeer Saved Santa"

Another fun book for the Holidays: "How the Reindeers Saved Santa" by Carolyn Haywood and Illustrated by the illustrious Victor Ambrus. I'm a great fan of Victor's art. In this tale of holiday hi-jinx poor old Santa takes careful stock one year and decides that the reindeer are too long in the tooth and need to be "put out to pasture." His sleigh requires repairs that are no longer cost effective so he donates it to a children's museum. Then he become enamored with the idea of modern technology and acquires a helicopter in which to make his holiday rounds. But the helicopter fails and all of Christmas appears in question. What to do? Copyrighted in 1986, this book was one of her last books in a long career that included most notable a series of books about the adventures of a little girl named Betsy and her friend Eddie between 1939 and 1981. I read these in the late 60's with abandon. This story is just as sweet and with Victor's illustrations timeless. Unfortunately, you'll have to settle for a ragged, used copy or pay north of $60 for a "like new" hardcover. OR dust off your library card!