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<p class=MsoNormal>Does anyone know the history of how Mickey turned into
Donald, when the Little Golden Book _<i>Donald Duck’s Christmas Tree</i>_
was written? I assume that the cartoon “Pluto’s Christmas Tree”
came first, and was adapted into the Golden Book. Indeed, Pluto remains in the
Golden Book. But instead of Mickey’s house, it’s Donald’s
house, and the second page provides this explanation: “Pluto was visiting
with Donald because Mickey was away for the holidays.” Was the change
from Mickey to Donald made because at the time the book was written Donald was more
popular among American children, thanks to Barks and the comics? Or for some
other reason? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I don’t mind the Pluto-staying-with-Donald maneuver,
but I am nonplussed by the fact that Huey, Dewey and Louie don’t appear
to live with Donald in this book! There are stockings at the hearth with their
names, and their photo is on the mantel, but their absence is unexplained, and
on the last page it says “And when Donald’s nephews, Huey, Dewey,
and Louie, came by to sing carols, eat cookies, and drink eggnog, they all
agreed that this was by far their happiest Christmas Eve ever.” When it says
that they “came by” rather than “came home,” it
definitely sounds as if they do not live with Donald. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>This story appears to be a separate line of development from
the Donald-vs.-C&D Christmas story (or stories), where Donald fights Chip &
Dale with toys around the tree. In that case, did the cartoon “Toy
Tinkers” come first? Or did a comic book story such as W CP 2-08 (titled
variously “Christmas Fray” or “Such a Clatter”) inspire
the cartoon? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Elaine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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