To the horror of Mrs. Claus, the toy-making elves and the reindeer, Santa discards his traditional sack for a synthetic one, paints his sleigh in psychedelic colors, and threatens to replace it with a jet plane next year. He soon learns that by doing so he has destroyed the very spirit and magic of Christmas.

On Christmas morning my brother and I would wake up early and run into the living room to see what Santa brought. My parents had put up and decorated the tree and wrapped the gifts after we had gone to bed. My brother and I were amazed and excited; my parents were exhausted.

Bill Peet Jr