Title: Dasher and the Sleigh-Train
Author: E. Dorinda Shelley
Publisher: Readersmagnet, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-952896-06-4
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 34
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Every day is Christmas Eve when children pick up to read this original story, Dasher and the Sleigh-Train, by author E. Dorinda Shelley. With detailed illustrations by artist Eleanor A. Hutton, this book pages with an adventure of Santa Claus having to overcome obstacles to achieve the delivery of all of the children’s presents on time by Christmas morning – when his strongest reindeer Dasher comes down with “Reindeer Pox.”
Resorting to a toy train and using some of Santa’s golden magic powder, Santa is able to shrink the sleigh full of toys small enough to fit on the toy locomotive. After a test run, the other reindeer look sad as Santa is soaring above in the night sky of the North Pole, so Santa invites all of the reindeer to come-abord! Santa turns on the headlight of the locomotive as they all set off to do their world-wide delivery of toys to children everywhere.
Details both within the storyline and embedded in the drawings are embellished all throughout this charming Christmas story. The drawings have enough “eye candy” to keep the imaginations of children being read this story, and the text is simply ideal to convey the theme. The combination of text and pictures are synergistically balanced and will come to life with the credibility of kids everywhere already familiar with Santa and his reindeer. The characters are developed in a way for children to enjoy the escapade having elements of adventure, kindness, and healing of an illness. How will Santa achieve his delivery without Dasher? With the Sleigh-Train, of course.
For those children of the lower-single-digit years in age, Dasher and the Sleigh-Train will surely become one of their favorite grabs off the shelf to be read at bedtime, be it in print or e-book. For train-lovers, this is akin to the Polar Express’ world of imagination. Due to Dasher’s illness, and having him miss out on the “big-event” for the reindeer, his recovery at the end of the story, along with the group singing Jingle Bells brings the story to a happy conclusion.
Dasher and the Sleigh-Train will make all children more able to accept the challenges life will throw their way, especially when someone in their family or group becomes ill and an alternative plan needs to be formulated. Of course, not everyone has Santa’s “golden powder” to sprinkle on when needed to help solve the problem!
