Flight of the Reindeer: The True Story of Santa Claus and his Christmas Mission

by Robert Sullivan, Glenn Wolff (Illustrator)

In Search of Santa Claus Those who know him best tell their remarkable tales. George Bush President Was a Helper Helping that fellow clear his airspace by signing the Santa Claus Clause was a great privilege of my office. A great privilege." Sir Edmund Hillary New Information on Everest The local people insisted there was something happening up there on the summit every December. Tenzing must have believed that. At the top, I saw him place some cookies in the snow." Al Roker Forecaster to the Elves In one hour in New York you can have snow, ice, rain—then it changes back to snow! Santa has to know what's going on. I tell him." Will Steger Only Man to Visit the Village It was big, but it was small. It was calm, but it was bustling. It was happy—yes, I would even say it was jolly. The village was precisely like Santa Claus himself!"

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Holiday

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Robert Sullivan has written several books on his own and dozens in his day job as Managing Editor of LIFE Books. His books include a baseball memoir and a golf collection, but closest to his heart are three collaborations with the artist Glenn Wolff: Atlantis Rising, Flight of the Reindeer and A Child's Christmas in New England.

Sullivan no longer lives in Massachusetts but in Westchester County, New York, with with his wife, three children and a psychotic Springer Spaniel.

Reviews

[Matt Spaulding]

What I really love about this book is it's "scientific" look at Santa Claus and his mission. The illustrations and photographs are amazing and the work put into the realism is amazing and wonderful.

My only quibble with this book is the history they present of Santa himself. I am more fond of the traditional Saint Nicholas origin than the "Santa as an ancient elf" story they present here. I am also not fond of the sleigh design they present.

Other than that, this is a fabulous book.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks))]

DNF @ 25%. Not feeling it, though I like the idea! Maybe next year.

[Dylan]

Took me awhile but finally finished this amazing story about the true history of Santa Claus and his reindeer. Filled with amazing pictures, historical tales, and proof, tons of proof that Santa and his reindeer are alive and well and continuing their Christmas mission.

It includes stories that flesh out the real Santa and reindeer not the ones you see in stories, includes scientific research on how Santa accomplishes his deliveries (hint it takes 31 hrs and multiple trips back to the North Pole) Historic anecdotes from famous people, as well as his hellers all over, amazing pictures of reindeer flying, and diagrams on how they do it. Eyewitness accounts including one from an explorer who once stumbled upon Santa’s workshop, again not what you are thinking.

A great book that should be read every holiday season and passed to those who are beginning to doubt Santa and the power of Christmas.

[RJ]

Oh!! Just re-discovered the title of this book, which I read in childhood and think about often.

If you would like your own children, when you finally give them the Santa Talk at ten years old, to flatly refuse your bad news and look upon you with pity for your lack of faith, buy them this book.

[Phillip]

An ambitious work, that blends real facts, mythology, and tongue in cheek reporting. Despite Sullivan’s clever and insightful coverage of the Santa phenomenon over the ages, this work will be most appreciated by the die-hard reader of Christmas lore and the particularly precocious child.

[Julia Walker]

Fun book, great illustrations if you love Santa.

[Rosie]

Santa Claus and science, what more could you want? This book follows an investigation of the story of Santa that was more interesting than I expected. With its primary focus on evidence-based practices, I don't know if children would enjoy it as much, but it might be something fun for parents to go through with their kids or for precocious kids to try out on their own. Definitely fun for Christmas lovers and grownups who are kids at heart.

[Marie Winger]

There was just something off for me in the tone of this book. The author “quotes” real experts ( I googled some of them and they are legit) in a wide range of subjects to support the true flight of the Peary reindeer Santa uses just doesn’t feel sincere. Some of the supposed photos were so fake looking. It just felt like it was really a joke. And I don’t like the idea of Santa and his elves being tiny, two feet tall? Santa only 3 feet tall?

[Barbara Bengston]

I was impressed at the research done to support the existence of Santa Claus and his reindeer, as well as the feasibility of flying around the world to make gift deliveries in 1 day. The drawings included in the book are really enjoyable. It's a great book to read on a cold winter night.

[Maureen]

awesome book

[Dulcie]

A fun and very compelling read. Loved the pictures.

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian)]

Very entertaining once past the beginning and through some audio glitches…
My Full Review

[Danielle Palmer]

A “scientific” book of “proof” that Santa exists and has been sighted by explorers and native cultures, is protected by the president, etc. A bit dry for my taste

[Sandra]

Such fun to read and dream

[Sue]

A must read every Christmas...non fiction that has all the magic of Santa and the North Pole...with real, that's right real pictures!!!

[Bryan]

A very academic and well-researched book.

[Rose Anderson]

Everything is explained in believable fashion, from the history, eye witness accounts of reindeer flying experts on flight, on animals. Very convincing.

[Emily Stewart]

Totally charming book.

On a side note, I’m now 100% convinced that reindeer can fly.

[Alek Zayas-Dorchak]

I loved this book as a little kid. All the old maps and charts and the "journalistic" style its presented in all grabbed me.

[David Ward]

Flight of the Reindeer: The True Story of Santa Claus and the Christmas Mission by Robert Sullivan and Glenn Wolff (McMillan USA 1996)(Fiction) is a beautifully illustrated summary of the story of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, and the magical flying reindeer told from a historical and scientific perspective. My rating: 7/10, finished 2/1/14.

[Anne Marshall]

Well researched. Extremely interesting.

[Collene]

Now I understand.

[Meadow]

Read this to the kid. We both enjoyed the psuedo-science of it.

[Sarah]

This is one of those that I love reading every year since I discovered it. It's an interesting take on the truth about Santa Claus.

[John]

Included here as a proxy for many holiday books I reread each year. This I started last year for the first time and finished this year.

[Shauna Thompson]

Really makes you Believe, or continue to believe in Santa!

[Christy]

You'll turn the last page thinking there really is a Santa Claus. The pictures in this book are actually very beautiful also.