In the Enchanted Forest, five friends have special powers. Sweetie the skunk smells pleasant when he's happy but nasty if he gets mad. Charlie the monkey has extraordinary eyesight, can move incredibly fast, and loves jokes. The porcupine, Billy, uses his quills to get what he wants. The fox, Jumper, has super hearing. Sticky the raccoon can speak with humans, and his paws emit a tarry goo that lets him hold onto anything. These five never go beyond their magical environment since the outside world is ice-covered and ruled by a beautiful but mean-spirited witch. It's Christmas, and the gang is looking forward to getting gifts from Santa Claus, until they see something suddenly fall out of the sky. The witch has frozen Santa and his reindeer! With help from a wise old owl, the five must break into the witch's castle and get her wand. It will be a scary task, but they will save Christmas for themselves and the whole world in the process.

Crenshaw's story and the brilliantly colorful pictures by Dan Cooper that accompany it can be appreciated by children as a simple reading experience or a cozy read-to by older family and friends. It offers some time-honored positive principles, such as not everyone who seems bad is really bad at heart, and with wit, comradeship, and courage, even a small group can make a huge difference. As the story develops, each of the characters utilizes his special skills for the benefit of the others and also recognizes that following the wisdom of one's elders—in this case, their studious, technically skilled owl patron—is always a good idea. With its Christmas theme, Crenshaw's book can be read at any time but will add special delight and insight during the holidays.

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