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Trumbauer’s (The Haunted Ghoul Bus) story explains why Santa always has reindeer pulling his sled.
It’s a week before Christmas, and Santa’s eight reindeer are on strike. “No pay, no sleigh”, they say. Santa is frantic, so he makes a hasty decision: he’ll let other animals guide the sleigh.
He tries the dogs first, but they are too distracted by the smell of food to focus on the sleigh. He tries the cats next, but they are more interested in chasing mice, and the flamingos that take the cats’ place slip off the roof because they like standing on one leg. “Eight hopefuls” come hopping along, but the load of stolen Christmas presents they have shoved down their pouches slow them down.
When the reindeer see the struggle Santa is having, they decide to help, but only if Santa makes some changes. “A whirlpool and sauna
would make us quite able.
And real beds, not grass,
AND a heater--and cable.” There is no Rudolph in this story, and the reindeer have requests that are extravagant, but on the last page, you see they are willing to share their new furnishings with Santa and his hardworking elves. Because this story follows along the same lines as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, it’s a melodious read-aloud.
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The Great Reindeer Rebellion