The Little Reindeer [Hardcover]

Michael Foreman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up

One Christmas Eve a little reindeer falls out of Santa's sleigh into a snow-covered city. The boy who finds him makes a home for him in the shed on his roof, and brings him peanut butter sandwiches and milk. Together the boy and the reindeer spend one wonderful year, and as the reindeer grows, they see the city from heights that only magic can bring. Michael Foreman's timeless, heartwarming story is sure to be a favorite at Christmas, and all year round.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. A lighthearted fantasy about a little reindeer that gets accidentally wrapped up as a gift in Santa's workshop and then falls from his sleigh onto a city rooftop and into a little boy's heart. The child makes a home for his new pet on the roof; when the animal begins to fly, they soar off into the night through the summer and fall. Then, as the year draws to a close, the reindeer looks longingly to the sky, and the boy knows that he must leave. On Christmas Eve, he kisses his friend good-bye and leaves him on the roof for Santa. The next morning, the boy finds a thank-you note from Santa for caring for his littlest reindeer. Each Christmas Eve thereafter, he waits on the roof with the reindeer's favorite food. The art is the real treat here. The city scenes have an especially startling clarity; points of view vary from panoramic and rooftop views to larger-than-life murals and billboard ads shown from street level. But the reindeer's poignant face and the boy staring up into the snow with his box of peanut butter sandwiches is what young readers will remember best for they are at the core of this story of friendship and sharing.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

This bittersweet love story from Foreman (After the War Was Over, 1996, etc.) starts on a wintry night in the far north. A young reindeer is drawn to a compound of sheds blazing with light. It's Santa's workshop, it's Christmas eve, it's hectic, and in the confusion the little reindeer is wrapped up and stuffed as a package into Santa's sack. That package spills out and lands on a city rooftop where it is found and unwrapped by an African-American boy: ``Wow! What a present!'' He squirrels the reindeer away in a pigeon coop, feeds him cereal and peanut butter sandwiches, and gets to know the animal over the next year as the city moves through the seasons. One day the reindeer takes a tentative leap from the roof, and is soon giving the boy skyrides; the reindeer's future doesn't include life in a pigeon coop. On Christmas Eve, the boy gives the reindeer a hug, a kiss, and a peanut butter sandwich for the road. This gentle tribute to the pleasures of good company has a quiet energy that grows page by page; the farewell packs an emotional wallop. Foreman's watercolors are two-page splendors, with captivating, diverse perspectives on the city and the snowy north. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803721846
• ISBN-13: 978-0803721845
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,062,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pure, sweet Christmas story, July 25, 2001

By 

Nancy (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Reindeer (Hardcover)

This sweet story is about a young reindeer who is accidentally left behind and the little boy who takes care of him for a year. The caring, unselfish friendship between the child and the animal is a wonderful expression of the spirit of Christmas. The snowy North Pole scenes, the colorful elves, and the magical citiscape viewed from the rooftop of the boy's high-rise are beautiful. My kids instantly loved this tale of friendship and adventure. We have read it dozens of times. It will surely be a favorite for years.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what a lovely, kind, fun story--- just right for Christmas!, December 29, 2006

By 

N. Ferguson "Two, Daisy, Hannah, and Kitten" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Little Reindeer (Paperback)

This is a wonderful story, BEAUTIFULLY illustrated.

An adorable African-American boy who lives in a big city finds a baby reindeer. He cares for the little reindeer on the roof of his high-rise apartment until the following year, when it is grown up and ready to return to Santa.

This is an especially good book for all those kids without chimneys who live in apartments! :) The illustrations are sweet and gently humorous. You will love reading this beautiful book to your kids-- it is full of both the magic and the goodness of Christmas.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Story, December 17, 2009

By 

J. Sweeney (manchester, mo) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Little Reindeer (Paperback)

One of my all time favorite books to read to young children! I read this book every year to second graders, and they end up loving it as much as I do. The illustrations are stunning, and really add to the enjoyment of the story. The soft blue skies dotted with snow turn into the bright yellow lights of Santa's helpers in a workshop, then turn into the soft gray of the night sky on a snow covered roof. It sets the tone for this story of kindness, caring, and sharing perfectly.

The little reindeer is accidentally wrapped as a gift and is placed in Santa's sleigh. He ends up getting delivered, standing on an apartment rooftop in New York City covered in gift wrap. The boy who lives in the apartment hears something crunching in the snow, and goes up to the roof and finds his present-the baby reindeer in gift wrap. He's excited to get this gift, and lets his pigeons out of their shed so the reindeer has a place to stay. The pigeons don't mind sharing; they return to the roof several times during the story. The boy feeds the reindeer several different cereals, milk, and peanut butter, with peanut butter being the reindeer's favorite. As winter turns to spring, the reindeer gets bigger, and the boy and his pigeons begin teaching the reindeer how to fly. They go short distances at first until the reindeer eventually flies all over the autumn night sky. The boy now knows the reindeer will be ready for his real job-pulling Santa's sleigh. He gives the reindeer his favorite dinner of peanut butter on Christmas Eve. Not long after, the reindeer is picked up by Santa. A note is left by Santa thanking the boy, as well as red ribbons with bells tied around the neck of each pigeon. Every time the pigeons leave their shed the bells can be heard ringing in the sky.

While "The Little Reindeer" is a Christmas story-it does have Santa, a reindeer, elves, and presents-it's so much more. It's also about being happy with what you have, sharing, even when you don't have much to share, and doing what needs to be done, just because it needs to be done. What a wonderful message to send to children anytime of year!

It had been out of print for a few years, and Amazon.com now has a paperback version available. Do not pass on the chance to own this wonderful book. Highly recommended for all ages!