Customer Reviews

The Wild Christmas Reindeer

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

I LOVE ALL of Jan Brett's stories as they are sooo beautifully done! The children love them! Mrs Dorothy Pierce

Our children have received hardcover Christmas books every year since they were born. Author Jan Brett is one of their favorites. Our Christmas shopping was late this year and we received the book in time for Christmas. Thank you.

Fast delivery and great condition. This is a beautiful book and a great addition to my daughter's collection. I will be buying more and the price was right!