The Donkey Book – A Children’s Christmas Story
The little donkeys worked in Santa’s workshop during the day, carrying toys the elves had made to the many rooms where Santa would load his sleigh Christmas Eve. Every evening the donkeys would sleep in the stable next to the famous reindeer who delivered the toys to all the boys and girls. The little donkeys looked with awe at the reindeer next to them and always cheered them Christmas Eve when the reindeer flew away with Santa and the sleigh. (Song: Hee Haw Ho! - A Children's Christmas Story)
In Santa's very big workshop all the elves run about helping Santa making toys. When the toys are finished they load them into sacks on the backs of the little donkeys who take them over to Santa's sleigh where other elves load the sleigh. The donkeys enjoy helping Santa and sing while they work. (Song: What We Do for Santa)
Then, at the end of the day they like to dance! (Song: Donkey Trot)
The donkeys are named Bobby and Brian and Mabel and Sue and Billy and Betty and Banjo and Boo.
At night the donkeys sleep in the stable together, but close by in the same stable are the famous reindeer. The little donkeys admire the reindeer and are in awe of them. The reindeer are bigger than they are and strong and fast and so famous.
Banjo, the wisest donkey, really loves the donkey named Betty but is too shy to tell her, but he tells Boo. (Song: This Thing That They Call Love)
Boo has gone and told Betty which upsets everybody. (Song: Oh Boo!)
Banjo finally talks to Betty near Christmastime, worried that she may have been offended by Boo's outburst (Song: Good Golly Betty)
After listening to Banjo, Betty sings (Song: Betty's Song)
Banjo replies with a heartfelt declaration: (Song: I Only Love You More)
Meanwhile just before Christmas Eve all the reindeer started coughing and sneezing. Somehow, even way up at the North Pole, they caught the flu! Their eyes were watering and they were feeling miserable and told Santa they really need to rest to get better. They didn't feel strong enough to pull the sleigh this year.
Santa didn't know what to do. He thought about other ways to deliver the presents. How about a plane? How about a helicopter? Then he realized those ideas would not work..(Song: Santa's Song)
The donkeys knew Santa was in trouble and they talked among themselves on what they could do to help Santa. Banjo, being the wisest among them said "I will ask Santa if we can pull the sleigh!"
Banjo had always dreamed of being high in the sky. He wondered what it would be like and dreamed of flying like the reindeer. He was feeling sad that Santa was in trouble and he went to talk to Santa. He told Santa that he and the other donkeys were not as big and strong as the reindeer but they would do their very best to pull the sleigh. (Song:Banjo's Song)
Santa thought for a minute and said why not try? Banjo called all the other donkeys together and Santa got some of his famous reindeer dust and sprinkled it on the little donkeys' ears. In a minute all eight donkeys were floating in the air, looking at each other and giggling and laughing. (Song: The Donkey Song (What Are We Doing Way Up High?) )
They knew they could do it. They could pull Santa's sleigh!
After the donkeys pulled the sleigh for Santa Christmas Eve everyone was very happy, and soon after that night Santa fulfilled his promise to Banjo and took Banjo and Betty on a moonlight ride in the sleigh. (Song: Moonlight And A Ride In Santa’s Sleigh)