A Very Merry, Muddy Christmas

Pitter! Patter! Pit Pat. Smack! The North Pole knew all about snow, but rain? This was a Christmas Eve rainstorm unlike anything Santa Claus had ever seen.

Santa and his reindeer won't let a bit of rain stop them from delivering presents to all the good little kids around the world on Christmas Eve—or so they think.

As they take off into the worsening downpour in rain gear for the reindeer, and a super waterproof suit for Santa, they expect it'll be business as usual. But then the reindeer start to sneeze. And soon, the sneezing not only knocks them off course, but right out of the sky!

They crash land in the middle of a farm in a rain storm, which means . . . mud. So much mud. 

The sleigh is stuck, the reindeer are sick, and Santa isn't sure how he's going to get the rest of the presents to the children.

Just then, Logan appears, riding the very same toy tractor Santa had left for him last Christmas Eve. With a rope and some effort, Logan manages to pull Santa and the reindeer from the mud pit, but the sleigh is stuck for good.

As they warm up and dry off in the barn, Santa and Logan try to come up with a plan to finish delivering the presents. But the reindeer are too sick to continue. And Santa doesn't have a sleigh any longer. How can he continue his journey?

A kind and determined little boy, a barn full of eager farm animals, and a little bit of Christmas magic may give Santa a Christmas Eve present of his own.

Melanie J. LaPlaca is an author, educator, and former journalist. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and earned a master's degree in journalism from Boston University. She spent eight years producing human-interest features on student-athletes before turning her focus to writing. Now she finds inspiration for stories from her most important role as a mom. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, three children, and their dog, Bucky. 

Laura Muncie is an author and illustrator from Scotland living in Germany. From a young age, Laura was creative and her childhood was filled with art projects ranging from sea glass wall murals to clay pot throwing. Creative fun gave way to a career in banking, but a change of pace in 2018 allowed Laura to revisit her creative side and she started training as a children’s illustrator. Laura’s first picture book What Love Can Do was launched at the Frankfurt Book Festival in 2021 and her artwork has been featured in the Bologna Artist Wall marketing material. A student at London Art College, Laura is represented by Maria Bogade at Wundergarden Agency.

"This unique, funny, and wonderfully illustrated story about a Christmas Eve dilemma unlike any Santa has ever experienced is sure to delight readers of all ages. What’s not to love about Santa, the ultimate giver of gifts, receiving one himself?"
—Janie Emaus, author of Latkes for Santa Claus

"When Santa and his faithful reindeer encounter some setbacks on Christmas Eve, they end up in a muddy mess—literally! But, with the help of a little friend and his Daddy’s big tractor, Christmas just might be saved after all. With such a fun twist on the typical Christmas Eve story, kids will want to read this story again and again."
—Michelle Medlock Adams, award-winning author of more than 100 books including, What is Christmas? and Dachshund Through the Snow