Book Review of The Old Sleigh
The Children’s Book Review
The Old Sleigh
Written and Illustrated by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Norton Young Readers (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1-324-05412-2
What to Expect: Community, Connection, Winter, and Traditions.
Fans of The Old Truck will recognize the Pumphreys’ signature style and appreciate this companion story’s gentle celebration of connection and the simple gifts that make a town feel like home.
In a small town blanketed by winter snow, an old sleigh makes its faithful rounds, bringing firewood to neighbors through sleet, wind, and the darkest nights. As the town grows bigger and bigger, the old sleigh can no longer meet the community’s needs. A new sled and a new generation take up the work, ensuring that warmth and light continue to reach every home. Tradition doesn’t end—it evolves.
This gentle story celebrates the beauty of community care and the passing of meaningful customs from one generation to the next. Crafted with elegant simplicity and sparse, rhythmic text—”Through sleet. Through wind. Through darkest night”—the text provides a meditative quality that mirrors the steady, reliable nature of the sleigh’s work itself. It’s a joy to read aloud at a slow and steady pace.
Working within a limited palette of warm golds, rusty reds, evergreens, and cool blues against stark white snow and deep charcoal skies, the Pumphreys have created images that feel both vintage and timeless as the same hillside transforms across spreads—houses multiply, and the community expands. The diverse cast feels organic to the story world, and the recurring red cardinals provide charming visual continuity. With the title embossed in gold on the dust jacket, set against the thick matte paper, the book has an heirloom quality worthy of gift-giving.
Perfect for families who value community, quiet acts of service, and for anyone who finds beauty in generosity, The Old Sleigh offers a contemplative alternative to the bustle of winter celebrations.
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About the Authors
Jarrett Pumphrey is an author/illustrator and the former cofounder and CEO of a tech startup. He lives in Austin, Texas.
Jerome Pumphrey is an author/illustrator and a graphic designer at the Walt Disney Company. He lives in Austin, Texas.
