By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 28, 2010
Flying Poodles: A Christmas Story
by Karen Morss (Author), Ginger Neilson (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 33 pages (iPhone and iPad apps also available)
Publisher: Poodle Dog Publishers (2010)
Source of book: Author
Flying Poodles: A Christmas Story begins with a slight variation on one of the most well-loved lines in all holiday literature. Instead of “Twas the night before Christmas,” Karen Morss starts her story off with “Twas two nights before Christmas” and proceeds to tell a jolly tale of adventure and rescue. Santa’s reindeer are sick and it doesn’t appear likely that they’ll be able to pull the sleigh on Christmas night. What are Santa and Mrs. Claus to do? Why, just pull out their cell phones and text Santa’s sister Sally for help, of course. She rushes over with her sleigh pulled by a team of poodles. Although she tries to nurse the reindeer back to health, they’ll be too weak to pull the sleigh and deliver the toys. So the poodles step up and volunteer for the job. But will they be up to the test?
The title of the story kind of gives away the ending but it’s a charming book with lovely illustrations and a very kind message. And in keeping with the holiday spirit, the author will make a donation to the Smile Train, an international organization that provides cleft lip and cleft palate surgery to children in need, for every book sold.
