“The Reindeer Wish” by Lori Evert. (Book Review)

December 26, 2015 Derrick GambleBooks

Be brave. Be kind. Believe! That is the beautiful message behind this sure-to-be-classic story. “The Reindeer Wish” is honestly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read; its a feast for the eyes and the soul.

New York Times bestselling duo Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen (The Christmas Wish and The Tiny Wish) sweep us into an warm, enchanting world amidst a cold, breathtakingly beautiful Nordic land. We adventure off featuring their daughter, Anja, a strikingly beautiful child with an adventurous, loving spirit. Christmas is approaching and every day she is sending letters to Santa Claus, asking for a puppy to call her own. Instead, a wise cardinal leads her to a baby reindeer without a mother who could use Anja’s tender love and care. We watch the two grow together, lean on one another for friendship and comfort, play and explore and make important decisions together. As Odin the reindeer grows, Anja teaches him to pull her on her little sleigh, and they roam together all over the mountains. Sometimes she loads the sleigh with toys and dolls and pretends she is Santa! One day she notices Odin looking longingly at a herd of reindeer, and she realizes her best friend has a talent that would make him a great member of Santa’s team of reindeer. The two make one last adventure together to see Santa, and to thank her for caring and training Odin so wonderfully, Santa fulfills one of Anja’s Christmas wishes!

This is a truly magical tale that will have you and your children captivated; my husband and I love it as much as you could love a book! Per Breiehagen’s stunning photography of the child and reindeer friendship in front of such a dramatic, stark backdrop is visually stunning and a wonderful accompaniment to a lovely, heartwarming story, told masterfully by Evert. Dolly was enthralled with Anja and enchanted by her closeness to the reindeer. She particularly loved when he “followed her to school one day” (ala “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, one of her current favorite songs), .

This is the third adventure starring Anja, so don’t wait another minute to pick up the first two books in the series, “A Christmas Wish” (2013) and “A Tiny Wish” , equally beautiful bodies of work from this husband and wife team (obviously living the dream!) starring their sweet daughter Anja.