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Dasher

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Dasher 
By Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press, 2019. Picture Book.

This is one of the most beautifully illustrated Christmas picture books to come out this year. The story is of Dasher the reindeer and how the reindeer family had a hard life being part of the traveling circus. Dasher loves listening to Mama’s story about living under the North Star which was a “magical place” that used to be home for Mama and Papa reindeer. One cold and windy night the gate to the reindeer enclosure swung open and Dasher takes a chance and leave the circus. She traveled North toward the star that Mama talked about so much. On her journey she met a man and a horse. The horse couldn’t pull the sleigh that was so heavy this particular year—so Dasher kindly decides to help. Santa gratefully accepts the help and after a magical night Dasher finds a new home at the North Pole—where the 7 other members of the reindeer family soon end up living thanks to Santa. The story of how Santa got his reindeer is fun, but the illustrations are the reason to pick up this Christmas treasure.
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