Where's Prancer

Rating:
Summary: A Charming Holiday tale
Review: Cheerful and charming illustrations pair with a simple story about a missing reindeer to create this amusing and touching picture book. The cadence of the text works well with the humorous dialogue, and the ending has a warm and fuzzy feeling. The topical references to the City of Brotherly Love don't limit the audience, although the book may have special appeal for Philadelphia natives. Very young children may not get the humor, but will still enjoy the story and illustrations. Pair with "Olive, the Other Reindeer" by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh for a quirky reindeer storytime for the older preschool set.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful and bewitching
Review: My five-year-old daughter is captivated, and she should be: the pictures are hilarious (eight reindeer standing matter-of-factly with carrots in their mouths), and the gentle absurdity (Prancer is ambling through Philadelphia when the police get a call) sparkles. No irony or edginess or overt cleverness, just a simple wonderful world unto itself.