THE LEGEND OF RANGER

A reindeer searches for the secret of flight in this debut illustrated children’s book.

Unlike his illustrious brother, Rudolph, Ranger is a reindeer who can’t fly. His job at Santaland, North Pole, is merely to pull Santa’s utility sleigh. It’s late November, and Ranger is now old enough to be hitched to the big sleigh. More than ever, he wants to fly. A wise old elf advises that “if you really are ready to be put to the test, you will figure it out on your own. So I will answer your question this way: The secret lies within!” Everyone else tells him the same thing, but no matter how much Ranger searches places that could hold the hidden secret, he can’t find it. When some reindeers fall sick only days before Christmas, Ranger offers to travel to a village for special medicine. It’s a three-day round trip and time is short, so he must hurry. Several obstacles slow Ranger down, and on the way home, a giant ice chasm makes ground passage impossible. Realizing that there’s only one way to save Christmas, Ranger digs deep to find the ability to fly—not elsewhere, but within. In his tale, Salisbury gives his inspirational message appealing suspense and drama, which keeps it from being overly preachy. That Ranger needs a moment of crisis to discover inner strength makes emotional sense, and the support he gets is a superb contrast to Rudolph’s mean reindeer friends. For kids who celebrate Christmas, the setting also taps into the fun of the season. Baird provides digital images that are somewhat flat and geometric but possess charm and offer vivid details, such as shelf labels in the workshop that include “Cookies,” “Paint,” “Wheels,” and “Cocoa.”

An effective and festive approach to self-affirmation.