Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

PreS-Gr 3–A young reindeer named Dasher cannot wait until Christmas Eve. The night before, she hears music that reminds her of Christmas carols and decides to explore. When gliding through the night sky, Dasher spies some dazzling Christmas lights on the horizon and soon approaches a small town. Charming houses are decorated for the holiday, and an enormous tree in the center of town is trimmed with colorful lights and topped with a twinkling star that reaches towards the sky. Eventually, Dasher knows she should head back, but she cannot locate the North Star through the falling snow. After a while, the hungry and exhausted doe rests near a little Christmas tree in a front yard and wonders how she’ll get back to the North Pole in time to fly with Santa and the other reindeer. Only a special act of kindness will assist in her return. This story is another adventure for Dasher, and it does not disappoint. Her excitement for Christmas Eve is almost childlike; instead of counting down the days until Christmas, Dasher counts the number of “sleeps” left. The illustrations may appear simple, but they are not to be underestimated. The reindeer look incredibly authentic. Dasher displays subtle expressions, from inquisitive, to exhausted, and then grateful as she leaves her helper. Children of all ages will enjoy this special story for years to come.