Olive, the Other Reindeer [Deluxe Edition] [Hardcover]

Vivian Walsh (Author), J.otto Seibold (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2007 | Age Range: 1 and up | Series: Olive

This beautiful deluxe edition marks the tenth anniversary of J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh's modern Christmas classicthe story of a little dog named Olive with big reindeer dreams! When the book was first published in 1997, it enjoyed great reviews and has since sold more than 1 million copies. This new edition is a larger version of the original book, and itfeatures flaps to lift, spots to scratch and sniff, and a pop-up grand finale. Designed to be a perfect holiday gift, this edition will appeal to Olive's many fans and is sure to make new ones.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You won't understand the premise of this book if you've never sung "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," so let's start there. The carol begins, "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer / had a very shiny nose / and if you ever saw it, / You would even say it glows / All of the other reindeer / used to laugh and call him names / They never let poor Rudolph / join in any reindeer games." If you notice that "all of the other reindeer" sounds suspiciously like "Olive, the other reindeer," you've discovered the source of Olive's adventures! Olive is a dog. But when she hears this holiday tune, a bit of an identity crisis sets in. She decides she must be a reindeer and heads to the North Pole to see if she can join Santa's reindeer team.

Olive gets to the North Pole just in time. Comet (the biggest reindeer) uses a piece of extra ribbon to tie Olive to the reindeers' elaborate harness system. As the sleigh rose high in the sky, "Olive was surprised it was so easy to fly." (The sight of a dog dangling beneath Santa's sleigh will reduce readers to charmed giggles.) Despite Olive's lack of flying ability and the unfortunate mishap caused by the reindeers' distraction, she, in her inherent dogginess, proves to be useful as both a flute retriever and a cookie smeller.

J. otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh have written and illustrated four splendid books for children: Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride, Mr. Lunch Borrows a Canoe, Monkey Business, and Free Lunch. Publisher's Weekly's assessment of the creators' work in Free Lunch also rings true for Olive, the Other Reindeer: "Seibold and Walsh specialize in street-smart art and convoluted story-lines ... Seibold's illustration style [is] a sort of cubism for the '90s. His computer-generated, airbrush-smooth characters resemble digital icons, but their asymmetrical quality lends them a hand-drawn warmth. The spreads are abuzz with comical details." This very silly, endearing book is sure to delight your favorite kids--and adults, too. (All ages) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Instead of the lyric, ``All of the other reindeer,'' Olive the pup hears something else on the radio: ``Olive, the other reindeer.'' She concludes that she is to be Santa's canine helper, so heads up to the North Pole, to join the Christmas Eve flight. Dangling from a ribbon tied to Comet's reins, Olive looks more like a stray ornament than a reindeer, but her doggy talents of chewing, sniffing, and fetching rescue Father Christmas from multiple mishaps. The story is as slight as they come, but the art sings a song all its own. Seibold's gregarious cartoons create an avocado-and-tomato colored cartoon Christmas in which little details shine: In a scene of flutes falling out of the sky and into a snow bank, a cutaway shows a surprised bunny awaking to find its burrow pierced by a silver shaft. Children will like the sophisticated art, even without a tight storyline. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Deluxe edition (September 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811857190
• ISBN-13: 978-0811857192
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.6 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Photo of the real Olive; pictured here on full Reindeer Alert.

Vivian Walsh's best selling book is, "Olive, the Other Reindeer" it is based on her real life Jack Russell Terrier. Olive is a relentlessly active, determined, well-loved, and sometimes confused lap dog. A description that is fairly shared with the author, and the dog's master, Vivian Walsh.

The goal of this particular author is to write exactly 100 books. Her next title will feature two of the larger creatures in the animal kingdom: a hippo and another hippo.

VW (as her friends call her) lives in sometimes sunny San Francisco with her many children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a modern Christmas story, simple and innocent December 27, 2000

By christinemm - The Thinking Mother TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Cute, modern story about a dog named Olive who thinks he is "Olive the other reindeer" and thinks he should be up at the North Pole helping Santa. Story is short and innocent. This story is nothing like the video (see my separate review of that). There is no negativity in this book, no hurt feelings, no "bad guys", no threat of "no Christmas", (unlike the video). Olive saves the day: the problem is that there is a hole in Santa's sack and there are several times where toys or candy fell out of the sack and Olive helps retrieve them. A very happy little story. I recommend it for those looking for a cute, innocent modern story about Christmas. Illustrations are very unique and there is a lot going on in the illustrations. If you love the book, please preview the video before buying the video as the video is very different. If you disliked the video, give the book a chance as it is different in content and tone.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny Christmas story for all ages November 27, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Olive, the Other Reindeer is a very funny Christmas story suitable for young and older children too. As an elementary school teacher, I picked out this book to read to my class, because it has so many interesting elements, from its computer illustrations to the many sound words it contains. It's a wonderful lesson on how individual differences can be an asset, and dog-lovers in particular will chuckle all the way through.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute November 15, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Olive the so called raindeer is so cute. I'm eleven and Ilovethat book! So did my mom! I love the pictures.No matter how oldyou are and if you like dogs you need to read this book.