Where's Prancer?

by Syd Hoff

After a long night of delivering presents throughout the world, Santa returns home, but he quickly notices that one of his precious reindeer, Prancer, is missing, and sets out on a search to find him and bring him back home.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Whether you’re seven or seventy, the chances are you’ve probably come in contact with one of his many books (150 plus), or cartoons that have appeared in over 200 magazines in the course of his lifetime, including Laugh it Off which was syndicated for 20 years. His comic strip Tuffy, about a little girl who did funny things, was declared essential for national morale during WWII by William Randolph Hearst.

Syd has worked in diverse genres. He had the distinct honor of working with Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen as a contributor of short fiction writing. He was awarded national advertising commissions for large companies such as Chevrolet, Maxwell House Coffee and others. He had his own TV show (Tales of Hoff on CBS), traveled the world as entertainment on cruise ships and entertained children and teachers in schools and libraries across the country.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where's Prancer? by Syd Hoff is a cute and colorful story about Prancer's absence on Christmas morning. Prancer just really wants to observe everyone on Christmas day. Santa and the other reindeer take flight on a journey to find him.

Syd Hoff's books really take me back to my childhood love for reading. They're illustrated with pictures kids can even draw, which in turn sparks their imagination.

4****

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Syd Hoff comes a Christmas story filled with all the good intentions real life can actually allow on the holidays. Santa is somehow missing one reindeer, which he finds out after feeding carrots to the other seven. (This I feel to be cruelty to reindeer since no Christmas should be celebrated on just carrots alone.) Prancer, it seems, has been lost in Phialdelphia, home of Rocky Balboa and other types of cheese. (Get that? Good!) Will the Santa Sled Team find their lost deer before Christmas is cancelled forever.... which in the real world could still happen, what with some deer head in the White House prancing on vixens and making a mess for everyone. But I doubt even Donald will be successful in destroying what Christmas is: a holiday celebrated with "deer ones" and everyone, every single day.
Three stars
Up on the rooftops it's old Saint SYD!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those old books that tends to get found out of the blue. The illustrations in this book is basic compare to the illustrations that you find in the present day picture books, but they fit in with most books from that time period. The story-line is simple other then the places where the Reindeers were looking were kind of above what I would think would be the age group for the book. This book would be great for those in Philadelphia area as that is where the setting takes place for most of the book. It's a cute book. I think that it's neat that it's a different reindeer then the one we are used to finding books for. I recommend checking it out.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and simple little tale about Santa who, after delivering presents to all the good little children around the world, realizes that he's missing one of his reindeer! Where's Prancer? Philadelphia, PA, of course! Santa and the other reindeer spread out on Christmas morning, in Philadelphia, in search of Prancer. But why did Prancer not come back with them? Why did he decide to stay behind in Philadelphia, PA You'll just have to find out for yourself by reading this book... Wish it had been set in NYC and was longer, but it's fine for what it is. My rating - 3/5

[Kim Redington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, no! Santa is delivering treats to his reindeer and one is missing! Where could he be? Santa and the other reindeer are on the hunt to find one missing reindeer! A fun read-aloud to young children!

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Story Time. Prancer is missing! Santa and the rest of the reindeer go on a quest to find their missing friend before they have to cancel Christmas next year. Not as good as I hoped.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been reading this classic with my grandkids these days. We love the sparse text and humorous illustrations.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2

[Miss Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to share this older book from the 1960s with the storytime children. Santa has noticed that Prancer is missing so the other reindeer join him on the search.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts on the morning after Christmas just as Santa and his eight reindeer finally make it home. Naturally, they are all tired. After a short break, Santa ventures out to the Reindeer's stable to feed them some carrots. To his surprise, Prancer is missing. In classic, child-crayon-like drawings, Syd Hoff takes the reader in search of Prancer. A wonderful story.

For those familiar with the Accelerated Reader Program, this is a level 2.9 book.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful excursion! From the North Pole, the reader is taken to Philadelphia, because it seems that that's where the reindeer and Santa lost Prancer the night before. After seeing a few well-known Philly sites, Prancer is found and we see the after-effects of Santa's Christmas Eve journey. =)

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Santa is so exhausted from making his Christmas Eve deliveries that he doesn't notice he is missing a reindeer until arriving back at the North Pole. After determining that it is Prancer who is MIA, he sets off to search the last city in which the other reindeer remember seeing him. Syd Hoff does nice illustrations as always, but the story is rather mediocre.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Hoff usually does a good job at writing and often times illustrating his own books, and this one isn't a disappointment. He gives a 'new twist' on a regular character for children's Christmas stories. Making it interesting and fun.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After delivering all the presents, Santa realize Prancer is missing. He and the other reindeer have to go to Philadelphia to go get him. The story is a little slight.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Alexandria K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that Santa and his reindeer weren't going to ever find Prancer.

[Goshen PL Childrens]

Read for Storytime Decemeber 7th and 8th
Theme: Christmas Stories