The Dog Who Saved Santa
By True Kelley
This tale of a naughty Santa Claus–and the dog who refuses to let a sleeping Santa lie–will have kids rolling with laughter.
It’s Christmastime, and young Santa is barely stirring. Every now and then he’ll eat some fruitcake or watch TV, but the elves and Santa’s dog, Rodney, do all the work. When Christmas Eve arrives and Santa falls asleep in the sleigh, Rodney takes charge, scrambling down chimneys and delivering presents. But there’s only so much one determined dog can do–will Santa ever start doing his job?
If the thought of young Santa as a slacker seems sacrilegious then True Kelley’s picture book is not for you. However, if the thought of a dog named “Rodney” saving Christmas and turning Santa into the “hardworking spirit of Christmas we know today” sounds like fun, then you have found your next holiday classic.
Rodney, a scruffy black dog with a white chest, little black eyes, and indefatigable spirit, handles all of Santa’s holiday duties including climbing up chimneys and driving the sleigh because Santa just cannot stay awake long enough to do these things. When he saves Christmas, complaint letters come in and he decides to start using a video “self help” program for Santa. It does not work on Santa but Rodney becomes stronger and more organized than ever, so he begins his own personalized Santa training program, during which Santa ages into the bearded fellow we all know and love.
Once he succeeds Rodney decides to take charge of that lazy, good-for-nothing Easter bunny next.
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