The Wild Christmas Reindeer [Paperback]

Jan Brett (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 5, 1998 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Little Teeka thought she had to be firm with the reindeer to get them ready for Santa's important flight, but when her bossy yelling only got their antlers tangled up, she knew she had to try something different. "Beautifully conceived and finely wrought." -- Booklist (starred review) "Brett's precise, glowing illustrations, drawing on Swedish folk art, make this a beguiling Advent calendar of a book." -- Kirkus Reviews "AA? sweet Christmas fantasy that shows Brett at her best." -- Publishers Weekly "This tale with its humorous close-ups of stubborn reindeer and a sharp child protagonist should prove popular at story hours." -- School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Teeka was excited. And a little afraid. This year Santa had asked her to get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve." Teeka, an Arctic girl who lives "in the shadow of Santa's Winterfarm," knows it will be a struggle to round up the reindeer who'd roamed wild on the tundra since last Christmas. Reindeer training is not easy for the hard-working young girl: "Teeka looked at the tangled reindeer, once so bold and free, and began to cry. 'It's my fault,' she said. 'I've spent all my time yelling at you, instead of helping. I'm sorry.' And one by one she gave each reindeer a hug." On December 24, Teeka--who's finally learned how to be a gentle, effective trainer--brings her antlered team to meet Santa and all the elves who have loaded the sleigh. Teeka is asleep on the last page of the book, as Santa and his well-trained reindeer--Bramble, Heather, Windswept, Lichen, Snowball, Crag, Twilight, and Tundra--fly past her window for a night of magical surprises. (Ages 3 to 8) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Little Teeka's attempts to train Santa's reindeer for their Christmas ride meet with disaster until she realizes that she needs to work with the animals in a new way. "Tomorrow," she says, "no yelling, no screaming, and no bossing, I promise," and with her patient teaching, on Christmas Eve the "wild reindeer rise up together and carry the sleigh off into the night." Brett's characteristic, richly detailed borders depict the activity at Santa's workshop as each day brings Teeka closer to Christmas. As with The Mitten , Brett makes use of Ukranian motifs--colorful embroidered costumes, festive garlands, carvings and cunning toys decorate every page. The reindeer themselves--sporting names like Lichen, Tundra and Bramble--provide most of the comic action in this sweet Christmas fantasy that shows Brett at her best. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 5, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698116526
• ISBN-13: 978-0698116528
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Brett is the author of the New York Times bestselling Gingerbread Friends, The Three Snow Bears, and The Mitten, as well as many other classics. She lives in Norwell, Massachusetts.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing change from the "standard" Christmas stories November 19, 2002

By breyergal

Format:Paperback

This was the first Jan Brett book in our family library. From the first reading, this book became one of our very favorite Christmas stories.

Follow Teeka's adventures as she works furiously to prepare Bramble, Heather, Windswept, Lichen, Snowball, Crag, Twilight, and Tundra for their Christmas Eve outing. Don't be surprised to hear your children murmur "that's not going to work" as Teeka finds that being bossy isn't always the best way to get the job done.

As with all Jan Brett books, the illustrations are captivating. As a special treat, each page is framed with Christmas illustrations containing "extra" pictures relating to the story.

If you've grown tired of reading about Rudolph and friends, you and your children can snuggle up with this book and learn about the "wilder" side of Santa's reindeer.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story for my 3-year old November 18, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I thought this was a wonderful story with exquisite illustrations. My 3-year old was enthralled with it, and checks it out from the library whenever she can. It's a good story about responsibility and treating animals with understanding, as well as getting ready for Santa's sleigh ride.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pictures full of color and detail. Great story. November 19, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

My 5 year old daughter brought this book home from Kindergarten one day. We read it at bedtime and were both amazed at the wonderful illustrations. Any child who loves animals will enjoy this book. It also has a nice change from the normal Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen thing. These reindeer have more interesting North Pole sort of names. We loved it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wild Christmas Reindeer December 19, 2002

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

I just read another one of Jan Brett's books. the name of it is The wild Christmas Reindeer. This picture book is not monotonous. It will keep you awake. It's a great book.

The story is about an elf named Teeka. Teeka was responsible to get Santa's reindeer together and ready for Christmas Eve. No, it isn't Dasher, Dancer or Rudolph, it's 8 different reindeer.when training, Teeka uses mean commands and loud voices. the reindeer were furious. they went insane. Teeka couldn't stand it. She nicely apoligized and the reindeer for gave her. Teeka settles them down and gets them ready for Santa. Santa said she did a fantastic job.

My oppinion is that this book was great. it caught my attention quickly. Like all Jan Brett books they tell another story on the side. that's what is cool about it. The illistrations are beautiful. I urge you to read this you will have fun just reading.

By Nicole Merrylees

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "On the 9th Day of Christmas"....."Love and Kindness To Others Will Be an Act of Love and Kindness for You!" January 2, 2010

By first words...God's breath

Format:Paperback

Jan Brett, the author illustrator of this book and many others, has a fantastic ability to draw animals and nature in such a realistic way. You can almost feel the hairs on the reindeer's coat. The colors in her illustrations always make you feel happy and add a festive tone to the story. Also, while she is telling you the main story, there are always smaller stories being illustrated alongside the main one.

This story begins 24 days before Christmas in a remote village in the arctic, that`s a very cold place, where people wear heavy and colorful clothing, and the animals seem to learn to tolerate the extreme cold. The scenery resembles both Scandinavian countries, and Eastern European countries, like the Ukraine, and other countries nearby. I will have to do some research to see where these stories actually resemble. While the main story takes up the center of two pages, the side panels contain oddly shaped minarets and turrets, tower-like structures.

While the main story spreads across the book, the side panels depict each of the 24 days preceding Christmas and are numbered as if a part of the calendar. In these side panels, shaped like turrets and minarets, the little children who are Santa's helpers are going about the business of helping Santa prepare for the gift-giving that he likes to do, "on Christmas Eve".

You will meet Teeka who has been given the assignment of getting the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve. Now, I know you know that reindeer don't fly, but humor me, because in stories about Santa Claus, reindeer fly on Christmas Eve, so that they can deliver all the presents to the fortunate boys and girls.... While Teeka is preparing the reindeer, the little elves, who are children, are all working over-time baking, sewing, building, painting, wood-carving, knitting, constructing, tasting, decorating, and wrapping all the presents for Santa's visits to the children all over the world.

Teeka has been given a tough responsibility, and she is a bit hard on herself, expecting the reindeer to follow her directions, especially because she doesn't know how to handle the situation. She is crabby and cranky, and very unsympathetic to the reindeer, and they in turn, are not comfortable with her. And so, instead of working together, they are getting in each other's way, bumping, pushing, and tangling with each other. She is "what you would say" "out of sync", with the reindeer, when she should be more thoughtful, caring, loving, and sensitive to their needs. She was always very angry with them. What she forgot was that, they too, needed to be cared for and treated with love and kindness. As they say, "a little kindness goes a long way".

Somewhere around the 19th of December she realizes her mistake and says, "I've spent all my time being mad at you, instead of helping you. I'm sorry!" She promises them that on the next day, they will work together in a new way....no bossing, no screaming, no pouting, no drama.

The reindeer listen to the softness in her voice and all of a sudden the reindeers' eyes sparkle, they smile, they laugh, and then they shake their antlers.....and suddenly, they are all happy to be helping her get ready for Santa's sleigh ride on Christmas Eve.

So, you see, if you show love and kindness, and caring, you will not only be good to others, but you will be good to yourself. Working together, no matter how many of you there are can make life beautiful. Now, go show the people in your life that you love and care about them. Be off! Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even still a army man's favorite childhood book October 24, 2012

By 4youngadults

Format:Paperback

My son was just deployed, I am trying to think of things to send to him that will comfort him this holiday season. Then I got it, his favorite childhood book!! Perfect!!! He loves the story and the beautiful margin pictures. Thanks Jan, hope that this brings a smile to our army nurse far away.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated - highly recommend December 12, 2010

By M. M. Sherman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jan Brett books have always been a favorite in my house. The detailed and colorful illustrations are a delight, and the simple but beautifully written stories speak of fantasy and history and lands far away. My daughter loved her books as a child, and I am now carrying on the tradition with my 15 month old grandson. I look forward to the day when he appreciates and loves the books as much as his mother did.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wild Christmas Reindeer December 8, 2009

By bnb

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is another wonderful book by Jan Brett. Her pictures are so detailed and I have found that children love looking for the surprise and detail in her pictures.