The Year Without a Santa Claus — Phyllis McGinley

Santa has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He's got a crick in his neck, a cold in his nose, and aches in his fingers and all ten toes. So Santa decides to take his first vacation in one thousand years. The Elves, the reindeer, the Gnomes, and, most of all, the children around the world are upset when they find out. But then one six-year old boy comes to Santa's rescue, and children everywhere band together to give Santa a Christmas he'll never forget!