Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Olive, the Other Reindeer
Illustrator: J.otto Seibold
Picture Book
For ages 3 to 7
Chronicle Books, 1997 ISBN: 978-0811818070
Olive is a dog who thinks that she is one of "the other reindeer" that the song is always talking about. As a reindeer she understands that her duty is to go north to help Santa with his preparations for Christmas - so Olive sets off.
She arrives to find that Santa is almost ready to leave. Santa and his reindeer are kind and they let Olive join them for their famous Christmas Eve ride. As it happens it is a very good thing that Olive is with them even if she isn't a reindeer and even if she can't fly, for Santa and his team run into a number of difficulties and Olive turns out to be a real asset.
Once all the gifts are delivered to the good boys and girls of the world Santa heads home and then he runs into real trouble - a fog bank of enormous proportions. Can Olive get her friends home into time to have their own Christmas celebration?
This very different and funny Christmas story gives a plucky and determined little dog a new role in Santa's team. J. Otto Seibold's quirky computer generated artwork with its bold solid colors perfectly suits the story.
