Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

by Robert L. May, Antonio Javier Caparo (Illustrator)

Overview

Every year at Christmastime, young and old alike fall under the finger-snapping, joy-inspiring spell of this song. Now fans of the most famous reindeer of them all can become acquainted with the original story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written in verse by his creator, Robert L. May, in 1939. Sumptuously re-illustrated with the vibrant and magical art of David Wenzel, this beautiful edition of an American holiday classic is a book to treasure and to share, year after year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442474956
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	09/30/2014
Edition description:	Anniversary
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	12.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939, when his company, the Montgomery Ward department stores, asked him to write a Christmas story that they could give away to customers. Drawing on the tale of “The Ugly Duckling,” Mr. May penned the story of a sweet, homely reindeer shunned because of his glowing red nose. Little did he know his creation was destined to become a Christmas holiday classic. Over the next few years, the company distributed millions of copies of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The book’s copyright was transferred to Mr. May in 1947, and under his ownership, Rudolph’s popularity soared. Commercial printings and cartoons quickly followed, and then, of course, came the song, which secured Rudolph’s place in Christmas history, and in our hearts, forever. Robert L. May died in 1976.

Antonio Javier Caparo is a Cuban-born illustrator and designer. Although much of his early career was spent in graphic design, his passion for animation and comics led him to devote himself to illustration—both traditional and digital. He has been published around the world and has won numerous awards in multiple countries. He lives in Quebec, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

09/15/2014
The original Rudolph story—as written by the late May for a booklet published in 1939 by retailer Montgomery Ward—enjoys a vivid revival in this 75th-anniversary adaptation. The story, more expansive than the omnipresent Christmas carol, gives Caparo plenty of room to exercise his artistic talents. After being teased by the other reindeer, Rudolph settles into his bedroom, buried under thick quilts and looking forward to gifts from Santa. May’s rhymes hold up well to contemporary ears (“And Santa was right, as he usually is./ The fog was as thick as a soda’s white fizz”), and after Santa struggles to deliver gifts amid inclement weather, he happily happens upon Rudolph’s home and enlists his help. Caparo’s wintry spreads, swirled with starlight, have a cinematic richness—a sense of wonder and surprise permeate this whimsical retelling. Ages 4–6. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

2014-08-12
The original 1939 story about a reindeer with a noteworthy nose serves as the text of this lavishly illustrated, oversize interpretation of Rudolph's place in Christmas lore. The cover illustration draws readers in to the story with an evocative view of Rudolph and the reindeer team pulling Santa and his sleigh through an azure sky. The paper used for the cover has a mottled, opalescent shine which, along with hazy swirls and shimmering bubbles, suggests the magical nature of flying reindeer and Santa himself. This use of glowing illumination to set a mysterious tone is repeated when Rudolph peeks into Santa's toy sack during the Christmas Eve toy delivery, with radiant light emanating from the reindeer's rosy nose, as it does on nearly every page. The 75-year-old rhyming story is a little too long and a little too singsong, with some of the phraseology a trifle dated for today's children and some of the rhyming word pairs struggling to fit the meter. However, there is no other full-sized version of this original story of Rudolph with contemporary illustrations currently in print; most picture-book versions are based on the alternate television version of Rudolph's story. (A new edition of this interpretation, retold by Thea Feldman, also publishes in 2014.) Rudolph and his contribution to the Santa saga seem firmly entrenched in American Christmas tradition, and this fresh look at the reindeer that triumphs over rejection and a seeming disability may be a new holiday classic. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

K-Gr 3-This newly illustrated edition of the well-known story uses May's original, lengthy but satisfying rhymed text, written in 1939. Wenzel's watercolor illustrations are vibrant and richly detailed with a nostalgic, old-fashioned quality. Michael Emberley's watercolor, cartoonlike pen-and-ink drawings in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Applewood, 1994) are amusing but crowd the pages. Of the two books, Wenzel's illustrations are a better fit for the text. While a tad too long for storytime, it's a solid representation of the tale.-M. W. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

How do you review a classic? It's not easy but I must admit that it was a lot of fun to read the tale of Rudolph as it was originally written.

We all know the story of Rudolph, how the other reindeer teased him because of his bright red nose, how he ran away, and then how he came back and saved Christmas. In the original version, a poem written by Robert May, Rudolph is actually living with other reindeer, far from Santa's home in the North Pole. Like all the other animals, and girls and boys, on Christmas Eve, Rudolph is fast asleep, dreaming of the toys Santa will bring. But Santa is having trouble delivering his gifts because a terrible fog has settled into the land. What will happen if he can't get to all the houses? Santa is in a panic and he doesn't know what to do, but then he comes upon the house where Rudolph and his friends live. Perhaps that bright red nose... There is, of course, a happy ending, Rudolph saves the day, all the toys are distributed, and Christmas is saved.

Applewood Books is a publishing company that has brought many classics back to life to be enjoyed by new generations of readers. For Rudolph, they have kept the look of the original 1939 publication by using the same text, design, illustrations, and even typeface. The delightful feel of the original is kept and while reading, it becomes clear why this story has become a cherished part of every Christmas. Don't miss it!

Quill says: Every home should have a copy of this book to enjoy at Christmas!

Feathered Quill - Holly Connors