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Olive
Olive, the Other Reindeer
Olive is merrily preparing for Christmas when suddenly an old holiday favorite - about a certain red-nosed reindeer - takes on new meaning.
"Olive the other reindeer?" thinks Olive. "I always thought I was a dog - but I must be a reindeer!"
And while Santa and his reindeer are a bit surprised that a dog wants to join the reindeer team, in the end, Olive and her unusual skills are just what Santa needs.
"Olive the other reindeer?" thinks Olive. "I always thought I was a dog - but I must be a reindeer!"
And while Santa and his reindeer are a bit surprised that a dog wants to join the reindeer team, in the end, Olive and her unusual skills are just what Santa needs.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Vivian Walsh
18 books4 followersVivian L. Walsh is a children's book author. Her best selling book Olive, the Other Reindeer is based on her real life Jack Russell Terrier.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
December 4, 2018
The artwork reminds me of Picasso. The faces are like the famous painting ‘Guernica’ only happy. Olive is a dog who helps Santa out one year. She is listening to the song ‘Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and realizes it says ‘Olive the other reindeer’. She figures she must be a reindeer and heads to the North pole.
I love that little piece of this story. She mis-hears a song and it changes her world view. How often to people hear different lyrics. I do it all the time.
I remember everyone talking about this little story when it came out and I never actually read it 20 years ago. I can’t believe it’s 21 years old now.
It’s a very cute story and the children loved it. They laughed and giggled. They also gave it 5 stars. The niece loves this and sings Olive the other reindeer all the time and smiles. She had to read this to her parents as well. This one’s fun.
I love that little piece of this story. She mis-hears a song and it changes her world view. How often to people hear different lyrics. I do it all the time.
I remember everyone talking about this little story when it came out and I never actually read it 20 years ago. I can’t believe it’s 21 years old now.
It’s a very cute story and the children loved it. They laughed and giggled. They also gave it 5 stars. The niece loves this and sings Olive the other reindeer all the time and smiles. She had to read this to her parents as well. This one’s fun.
December 5, 2019
"All of the other reindeer....."
(All of= Olive)
So begins Olive's journey to the North Pole to her destiny of being a reindeer. Very cute book about a dog's destiny to helping Santa. A plus? Dogs have a great sense of smell!
Funny moments and great spirit of Christmas season.
(All of= Olive)
So begins Olive's journey to the North Pole to her destiny of being a reindeer. Very cute book about a dog's destiny to helping Santa. A plus? Dogs have a great sense of smell!
Funny moments and great spirit of Christmas season.
December 2, 2016
This book had great illustrations and a great, creative story line. My students really enjoyed the book :)
December 5, 2010
2.5 - This is pretty cute in a few ways. First, the illustrations really help the story along because Olive is just too darn cute. Second, her hearing "All of the other reindeer", yet really hearing "Olive, the other reindeer" makes the story so much fun to read. We both cracked up when I read that part.
How Santa fixes the whole 'dogs can't fly' thing is just awesome. Everyone's seen illustrations of reindeer flying, it's in all of our brains, but who has ever seen the reindeer flying through the night with a little doggie attached to a darn string hanging underneath them? Too cute!
I'm pretty sure I liked the first time Olive saved the day after the crash but after that the story goes downhill - for me. This was not the case for Julia however.
All of a sudden gumdrops are falling from the sleigh yet there is no reason for this for the next few pages. I was very confused to say the least. The author needed a way for a dog to be able to help with a dogs sense but this was reaching... and reaching faaarrrrr.
I can get with the third save a bit easier but I still feel it could have been done better.
The story ends with Santa needing Olive to guide the sleigh through some fog and with her nose smelling Mrs. Claus' cookies she's very able. She also receives a present of reindeer antlers which was very cute.
I have to admit though, that middle part, with the two saves, really got to me and it took a lot away from the book. I can't help but feel that with a little extra thought those parts could have been a lot better.
Julia liked those parts, I asked her because I needed to know, but at 5 years old I don't expect her attention to detail to be what mine is.
How Santa fixes the whole 'dogs can't fly' thing is just awesome. Everyone's seen illustrations of reindeer flying, it's in all of our brains, but who has ever seen the reindeer flying through the night with a little doggie attached to a darn string hanging underneath them? Too cute!
I'm pretty sure I liked the first time Olive saved the day after the crash but after that the story goes downhill - for me. This was not the case for Julia however.
All of a sudden gumdrops are falling from the sleigh yet there is no reason for this for the next few pages. I was very confused to say the least. The author needed a way for a dog to be able to help with a dogs sense but this was reaching... and reaching faaarrrrr.
I can get with the third save a bit easier but I still feel it could have been done better.
The story ends with Santa needing Olive to guide the sleigh through some fog and with her nose smelling Mrs. Claus' cookies she's very able. She also receives a present of reindeer antlers which was very cute.
I have to admit though, that middle part, with the two saves, really got to me and it took a lot away from the book. I can't help but feel that with a little extra thought those parts could have been a lot better.
Julia liked those parts, I asked her because I needed to know, but at 5 years old I don't expect her attention to detail to be what mine is.
December 19, 2015
Aww! This is such a cute little book. It would make the perfect book to read, on Christmas eve while putting the little ones to bed.
November 27, 2020
Most kids' books are about the same length or a little longer than the TV specials or movies based upon them. That is not the case here, where "Olive, the other reindeer" (a misheard pun on "All of the other reindeer," drawn as a stylized version of author J. Otto Seibold's Jack Russell terrier), heads to the North Pole to help Santa and hopefully join in the (other reindeers') "reindeer games."
This version is heavy on charm but light on plot points, unlike the turn-of-the-century video version that ran on FOX and other networks. Still, it's a fine version to read out loud to a small child, even without Drew Barrymore's beguiling voice. Recommended.
from the book:
Santa noticed that there was a little dog in the line-up. Santa knew a lot about dogs, for instance, they can't fly. But as it was time to go, he decided to give Olive a chance . . .
(Illustration): Olive, the other reindeer --
This version is heavy on charm but light on plot points, unlike the turn-of-the-century video version that ran on FOX and other networks. Still, it's a fine version to read out loud to a small child, even without Drew Barrymore's beguiling voice. Recommended.
from the book:
Santa noticed that there was a little dog in the line-up. Santa knew a lot about dogs, for instance, they can't fly. But as it was time to go, he decided to give Olive a chance . . .
(Illustration): Olive, the other reindeer --
February 29, 2020
Silly and cute, with bold, colourful artwork to illustrate the story of Olive the little dog who wanted to be a reindeer, and got to help Santa out important night.
November 21, 2013
Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with this book as I'd hoped to be, or as other readers seem to be. I found the illustrations to be a bit strange and not soft and cozy, which is how I think of Christmas. It also doesn't have a ton of logic (I can see kids questioning), in that there is mention at dogs can't fly, and a "solution," yet no mention of the fact that reindeer usually can't fly either. I think the cutest part of the book is the title and the "mis-heard lyrics" behind it.
December 16, 2021
One of my very best friends has a massive talent for mishearing song lyrics. Baby don’t fear the reefer …. Lipstick on the beach California girls …. and something from “I got a Nikon camera, I love to take the photographs, mama don’t take my Kodachrome etc” that I thought I would never forget but lo, these many years on I have indeed forgotten. And, in the time honored tradition of those old commercials selling compilation record albums, many more. How could I not fall in love with Olive the other Reindeer?
Hearing her name on the airwaves Olive sets out to give Santa her help pulling the sleigh on Christmas Eve. A game Santa ties her to the reigns so that Olive believes she really is flying and off they go. Good times and heroics ensue. Charming and delightful. The illustrations are rather reminiscent of Picasso but … charming and delightful?
Farewell sweet Olive! May you bring my grandkids as much delight as you brought your dad, auntie, and uncle years ago!
Hearing her name on the airwaves Olive sets out to give Santa her help pulling the sleigh on Christmas Eve. A game Santa ties her to the reigns so that Olive believes she really is flying and off they go. Good times and heroics ensue. Charming and delightful. The illustrations are rather reminiscent of Picasso but … charming and delightful?
Farewell sweet Olive! May you bring my grandkids as much delight as you brought your dad, auntie, and uncle years ago!
February 3, 2019
Feb. 3, 2019
Silly, funny, a little heartwarming: Olive is a well-meaning but confused pup during the holidays. She mistakenly believes herself to be needed on the reindeer team. I don't have it handy, and will need to re-read before commenting further (lest I write a spoiler!).
My son chose this book at a Scholastic Book Fair at school, in first grade, and loved the humor and illustrations. He gives it 5 stars (still, when consulted today at age 18!), and I give it 3, so we're averaging it to 4. Purely based on memory, as it has been packed away for a few years.
Silly, funny, a little heartwarming: Olive is a well-meaning but confused pup during the holidays. She mistakenly believes herself to be needed on the reindeer team. I don't have it handy, and will need to re-read before commenting further (lest I write a spoiler!).
My son chose this book at a Scholastic Book Fair at school, in first grade, and loved the humor and illustrations. He gives it 5 stars (still, when consulted today at age 18!), and I give it 3, so we're averaging it to 4. Purely based on memory, as it has been packed away for a few years.
February 22, 2024
Absolutely love this book - a classic at my house!
🤍🫒🖤
🤍🫒🖤
February 23, 2016
Where has this book been all my life? Holy adorable, man...Olive hears a Christmas song on the radio and realizes that she must have been mistaken thinking she was a dog, otherwise why would people be singing about "Olive, the other reindeer?" She goes to the North Pole to help Santa deliver presents and ends up saving the day multiple times.
The beginning few pages are a little wordy for a younger group of kids, but the pace picks up quickly, and I think storytime groups would LOVE this book.
The beginning few pages are a little wordy for a younger group of kids, but the pace picks up quickly, and I think storytime groups would LOVE this book.
December 21, 2009
This is a fun story about a little dog named Olive who mishears the classic Christmas Rudolph song, "Olive, the other reindeer..." and thinks, wow, I must really be a reindeer. So, she goes to the north pole to help Santa. And help she does, in her own doggie way! :-) Very cute and fun story but the illustrations were not exactly my cup of tea.
December 29, 2024
i laughed, i cried (a number of times), i sweat, i danced, i got… a shot, i ate, and i had many epiphanies
December 13, 2015
This book is definitely not a strong 4 star rating and I do not feel like wondering if it is a 3.5 or more but I am being generous considering the television special ruined this book. I remember as a kid I saw countless times every year the wonderful Olive, the Other Reindeer that had Drew Barrymore and since I never read books as a child I didn't know this tv special was adapted from a book. I have to admit while the animation for the special may look weird, the plot was 100 times better than this book.
In the animated movie we get to see some action as to how Olive got to meet Santa and other evil characters that try to ruin Christmas and Olive's life. In this book there is actually zero drama. In the book, Olive hears the song Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer but when they get to the part of "All of the other Reindeer", Olive hears Olive the other Reindeer. They play it so many times that Olive figures she must be a reindeer and not a dog and heads over to help Santa Claus.
She arrives and Santa is about to take off and just for the hell of it he includes Olive with the other reindeers and fly off as Santa is performing his yearly duty. If I haven't seen the television special that I actually like and adore, this book would have been cute and sweet but I felt that it essentially lacked drama and details and doesn't really attract the reader into the story.
Probably they had that issue in the book and figured if they made an animated feature out of it they could go into more details and pretty much make an entirely different story from the children's book. If you or your child falls into the same predicament as me then please do not read this book at all cost. For reading my review I feel like the only way to make justified I have included the television link down below and I suggest watching it if you want a quick and simple christmas movie with talking animals.
Olive, The Other Reindeer (1999)
In the animated movie we get to see some action as to how Olive got to meet Santa and other evil characters that try to ruin Christmas and Olive's life. In this book there is actually zero drama. In the book, Olive hears the song Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer but when they get to the part of "All of the other Reindeer", Olive hears Olive the other Reindeer. They play it so many times that Olive figures she must be a reindeer and not a dog and heads over to help Santa Claus.
She arrives and Santa is about to take off and just for the hell of it he includes Olive with the other reindeers and fly off as Santa is performing his yearly duty. If I haven't seen the television special that I actually like and adore, this book would have been cute and sweet but I felt that it essentially lacked drama and details and doesn't really attract the reader into the story.
Probably they had that issue in the book and figured if they made an animated feature out of it they could go into more details and pretty much make an entirely different story from the children's book. If you or your child falls into the same predicament as me then please do not read this book at all cost. For reading my review I feel like the only way to make justified I have included the television link down below and I suggest watching it if you want a quick and simple christmas movie with talking animals.
Olive, The Other Reindeer (1999)
November 11, 2009
I didn't like this book very much. I found the illustrations unattractive and I didn't much care for the story. I wanted to like it, because a very dear friend gave it to my child, but I just couldn't like it.
October 16, 2018
Just no.
February 24, 2020
A Goodreads friend recommended this book to me and I was finally about to get a copy of it from my local library. I can't thank her enough! It was such a sweet book! It's only February, but Olive has already put me in the Christmas spirit!
December 14, 2009
11) Walsh, V.; Seibold, J.O. (1997). Olive, the Other Reindeer. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
(Ages 2-5) While singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Olive hears the words: “Olive, the other reindeer,” and knows she must help Santa with his sleigh. Even though she is only a dog, Olive really does save the day, using the special talents only dogs have. The colorful, blocky illustrations are what caught my eye when choosing this book. The story is bright enough to be an antidote to the usual holiday fare, because it’s not about what one gets, but what one gives at Christmastime.
(Ages 2-5) While singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Olive hears the words: “Olive, the other reindeer,” and knows she must help Santa with his sleigh. Even though she is only a dog, Olive really does save the day, using the special talents only dogs have. The colorful, blocky illustrations are what caught my eye when choosing this book. The story is bright enough to be an antidote to the usual holiday fare, because it’s not about what one gets, but what one gives at Christmastime.
December 21, 2011
I read this as a Tumblebook. Check your library's web page to see if it offers Tumblebooks. These are books that you can read online and they are delightful! This is the story of Olive the dog who, when she hears Christmas music thinks that "All of the other reindeer..." is really "Olive, the other reindeer." Olive sets off for the North Pole to help Santa deliver Christmas gifts to all the good little boys and girls. Along the way, her special talents come into play and she makes sure that Christmas is a wonderful day for everyone. Cute story and illustrations. A nice book to add to your Christmas collection.
May 7, 2025
I first became acuqainted with Olive from the absolutely charming TV animated special with Drew Barrymore voicing Olive. After reading the book, I will have to say that the TV special added so much substance to the story. That's how you do it. The content stayed the same but the special added so much heart and character to the original story. It's an example of an adaptation gone right.
Even without the adaptation, Olive the Other Reindeer shows you can do anything you set your mind to, even if you aren't considered the traditional fit for the task.
Even without the adaptation, Olive the Other Reindeer shows you can do anything you set your mind to, even if you aren't considered the traditional fit for the task.
January 6, 2009
When we first received this book, I didn't think much of it. But after numerous readings, I realize that it has stood the test of time. We pull it out every Christmas and enjoy the quirky illustrations and the funny story. We notice new things every time and laugh at the things we remember. It also has a good message that everyone can find a place to help.
September 17, 2019
Meh. It was cute, but obnoxious. How convenient that every mishap along the way was perfectly suited for a dog! I much would have appreciated a story about a bully reindeer named Olive that teased Rudolf, etc. etc.
October 28, 2019
I wanted to love it. I really and truly did. But even the story of a dog who thinks she is "the other reindeer" because her name is Olive.....it's not enough for me to get over the really horrible text. Seriously. It's rough. Too much of it.
December 2, 2016
amazing
September 17, 2017
Childhood memories
I remember the made for tv movie on Cartoon Network! Had to get the book to go along with it 💖
I remember the made for tv movie on Cartoon Network! Had to get the book to go along with it 💖
January 3, 2018
The students always love this Christmas tale!
November 27, 2018
But she asks to read it over again
December 31, 2018
Its a good thing that Olive decides to join Santa on Christmas Eve. Olive saves Christmas!
October 21, 2019
SUPER FAST REVIEW:
Very different from the movie but still a delightful story about an adorable little pupper that thinks she’s a reindeer! Very humorous, wonderful art! There’s even a bit of suspense.
Highly recommended, adorable book!
5/5
Very different from the movie but still a delightful story about an adorable little pupper that thinks she’s a reindeer! Very humorous, wonderful art! There’s even a bit of suspense.
Highly recommended, adorable book!
5/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews