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Christmas at the Top of the World
Little Reindeer has heard of an amazing place where the stars are close enough to touch. Now Papa is going there on a journey, and he won't be back until Christmas Day. It's hard for Little Reindeer to wait.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2003
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 20, 2024
A true delight.
December 31, 2017
A cute little Christmas story that can be read in the days leading up to Christmas as the story revolves around a small deer finding out about Christmas and his place within the traditions when he follows his dad in the days leading up to this special night.
As such this isn't a religious Christmas book but one that includes Santa, which may limit the books audience. Otherwise the writing is easy and simple enough for young readers to handle on the own even the story itself may seem a bit lengthy to them.
The keeper, though, for this book is its very beautiful and richly detailed illustrations. They add a silent charming addition to the story that allows the reader to be a part of the story even if some of the animals don't seem correctly proportional.
Again a cute and enjoyable story but not in my opinion a classic Christmas read that can be enjoyed over and over again.
As such this isn't a religious Christmas book but one that includes Santa, which may limit the books audience. Otherwise the writing is easy and simple enough for young readers to handle on the own even the story itself may seem a bit lengthy to them.
The keeper, though, for this book is its very beautiful and richly detailed illustrations. They add a silent charming addition to the story that allows the reader to be a part of the story even if some of the animals don't seem correctly proportional.
Again a cute and enjoyable story but not in my opinion a classic Christmas read that can be enjoyed over and over again.
January 9, 2017
I liked the illustrations. The first pages had the deer family lying in the snow, with these triangle trees in the distance under a full moon, and these curling bushes that looked like vines. The scene was so pretty.
It didn't make any sense why the dad would leave his family to go to the North. And it's annoying when people make it out like animals celebrate Christmas and know when it's here. It's really misleading to make kids think they can even smell it in the air, that Christmas Eve smells sweet. Come on.
It finally clicked when Little Reindeer traveled to the north, wanting to see his dad, and all of the animals and his mom followed him. There he met Santa, who said he knew he was there to see his dad. And his dad was hooked to the sleigh, so it made perfect sense why he had to journey there. It didn't make sense tho that his dad said his son waited as long as he could bcuz it was Christmas Eve. Animals don't travel to the North Pole.
The illustrations were great. They totally made the book and every single page was pleasant to look at. I loved the images. I wish the writing had been as good. There wasn't much of a point to it. They just traveled to the north and ended up sleeping there, "at the top of the world." It was cool how the dad was one of Santa's reindeer and I wish that would have been explored further.
It didn't make any sense why the dad would leave his family to go to the North. And it's annoying when people make it out like animals celebrate Christmas and know when it's here. It's really misleading to make kids think they can even smell it in the air, that Christmas Eve smells sweet. Come on.
It finally clicked when Little Reindeer traveled to the north, wanting to see his dad, and all of the animals and his mom followed him. There he met Santa, who said he knew he was there to see his dad. And his dad was hooked to the sleigh, so it made perfect sense why he had to journey there. It didn't make sense tho that his dad said his son waited as long as he could bcuz it was Christmas Eve. Animals don't travel to the North Pole.
The illustrations were great. They totally made the book and every single page was pleasant to look at. I loved the images. I wish the writing had been as good. There wasn't much of a point to it. They just traveled to the north and ended up sleeping there, "at the top of the world." It was cool how the dad was one of Santa's reindeer and I wish that would have been explored further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2017
So thankful someone turned this in before the holidays!
I like the drawings. They're different.
At first I thought why is the dad going on an adventure right before Christmas? Then I figured it must have something to do with Santa.
'And when the north wind feels warm and smells sweet, it'll be Christmas Eve. You'll know. All the animals will know."
When she said all animals will know, I didn't know she meant they'd travel to the top of the world.
I love the little village, where the earth touched the heavens. The colored dots representing lights is so pretty! And he snowman and swirls of snow.
'There were green stars, red stars, blue stars, too--yellow and white twinkling stars--they were close enough to touch, just as Papa had said.' He's referring to the lights on the trees.
The big tree's stem isn't big enough for that tree.
It's sweet that Santa knew who he was, and must have been there for his dad.
It isn't right to have him lead the sleigh. He isn't Rudolph!
"This is the magic place, isn't it?" Whispered Little Reindeer. "I couldn't wait."
"You waited as long as you could?" Said Papa. "It's Christmas Eve."
-they watch his dad fly away on the sleigh.
'It would be Christmas soon, and Little Reindeer was on top of the world.' That was a sweet note.
I like the drawings. They're different.
At first I thought why is the dad going on an adventure right before Christmas? Then I figured it must have something to do with Santa.
'And when the north wind feels warm and smells sweet, it'll be Christmas Eve. You'll know. All the animals will know."
When she said all animals will know, I didn't know she meant they'd travel to the top of the world.
I love the little village, where the earth touched the heavens. The colored dots representing lights is so pretty! And he snowman and swirls of snow.
'There were green stars, red stars, blue stars, too--yellow and white twinkling stars--they were close enough to touch, just as Papa had said.' He's referring to the lights on the trees.
The big tree's stem isn't big enough for that tree.
It's sweet that Santa knew who he was, and must have been there for his dad.
It isn't right to have him lead the sleigh. He isn't Rudolph!
"This is the magic place, isn't it?" Whispered Little Reindeer. "I couldn't wait."
"You waited as long as you could?" Said Papa. "It's Christmas Eve."
-they watch his dad fly away on the sleigh.
'It would be Christmas soon, and Little Reindeer was on top of the world.' That was a sweet note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2018
Daddy reindeer leaves for a Christmas adventure. Little deer goes to find dad on Christmas eve and finds the top of the world where the stars are close enough to touch. Dad is leading Santa's sleigh and comes down to say hello before he leaves to deliver magic around the world.
November 30, 2017
Sweet, but not terribly magical. Nice illustrations.
December 27, 2018
Cute little book.
December 29, 2020
Little Reindeer is suppose to wait for Papa to return on Christmas Day but he just can't. What he discovers at the top of the world is a joyous celebration of the season. The textured acrylic paintings on watercolor paper add to the tenderness of the story.
December 9, 2021
Beautiful illustrations. The idea of "the top of the world" is interesting. I love the message that everyone can embrace the holidays.
February 18, 2016
“Christmas At The Top Of The World”, composed and illustrated by Tim Coffey in 2003, is a special find. Simple drawings manage to make a very beautiful book, cheering listeners with a brightness. This lovely story proceeds with a feeling of affection rising, as we turn each page. It is an easy and yet inspiring book that we look forward to reading each Christmas, with my spouse taking the first turn for the entertainment of my parents and other family. Instead of letting gatherings drift to casual chatter; a reading keeps the occasions we are celebrating on track. This is a full story for children to absorb.
Winter-sturdy animals live in a soft, sparkly forest blanketed by snow. Curiously, Tim makes very simple contours to shape animals and trees but dots his landscapes with enough colour, shading, and bright speckles that his pages seem infused with glitter. It is a really pretty effect without lifelike detail. The emotion he succeeds at placing in animals’ large, highlighted eyes is a well-communicated, truly warming experience as we gaze at each of them. Little Reindeer doesn’t know Papa’s job; only that he returns at Christmas in a beautiful place described as the top of the world.
Mama says he may greet Papa when he is ready. I cherish the way he is taught every animal’s ability to recognize Christmas Eve: when the north wind feels warm and smells sweet. Little Reindeer does discern this day without hesitation. I felt elated at seeing Mama and all manner of forest animals following along with him. The harmonious inclusion of all of these animals, seeing their brown familiar forms and such equally eager faces, makes me smile. Speckles of snow cascade in every spectacular tableau, looking especially happy and soothing when the reindeer return to sleep.
Winter-sturdy animals live in a soft, sparkly forest blanketed by snow. Curiously, Tim makes very simple contours to shape animals and trees but dots his landscapes with enough colour, shading, and bright speckles that his pages seem infused with glitter. It is a really pretty effect without lifelike detail. The emotion he succeeds at placing in animals’ large, highlighted eyes is a well-communicated, truly warming experience as we gaze at each of them. Little Reindeer doesn’t know Papa’s job; only that he returns at Christmas in a beautiful place described as the top of the world.
Mama says he may greet Papa when he is ready. I cherish the way he is taught every animal’s ability to recognize Christmas Eve: when the north wind feels warm and smells sweet. Little Reindeer does discern this day without hesitation. I felt elated at seeing Mama and all manner of forest animals following along with him. The harmonious inclusion of all of these animals, seeing their brown familiar forms and such equally eager faces, makes me smile. Speckles of snow cascade in every spectacular tableau, looking especially happy and soothing when the reindeer return to sleep.
May 4, 2008
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this cute children's Christmas book. I added it to my database because it's one I would like to purchase.
November 14, 2009
Wonderful pictures.
August 6, 2016
A simple, sweet Christmas book. (Almost too sweet, but not quite.) The ending was predictable , but not annoying.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews