Beautiful picture books and the holiday season have always complemented each other in my life. As a child, I treasured books. As a classroom teacher, I shared my love of books with my eager students. As an adult, author, and blogger, my passion for beautifully-written and illustrated books knows no end.
'Dasher', written and illustrated by award-willing author-illustrator Matt Tavares, can best be described using two of my favorite words--exquisite and extraordinary.
This story is told from the perspective of a young reindeer doe named Dasher. She and her family were members of a traveling circus in the late nineteenth century. Nowhere is it stated that this is the time period of the story, but the illustrations depict the dress and realia from that era.
Dasher loves her family, and she especially loves the stories her mother tells her at night about days gone by and the magic of the North Star. These stories become meaningful later on in the book as Dasher strikes out on her own in search of freedom and happiness.
Younger children will enjoy the story because of the adventure and surprises Dasher finds along the way. Middle-graders will enjoy the story because of the deeper meanings threaded throughout the narrative about yearning for a dream to come true, family, love, freedom, hope, and joy.
I highly recommend this beautiful book to children and families alike. I found it to be a unique, inspiring tale about some common Christmas icons.
I borrowed this book from the new book shelf in the children's collection at the local public library.
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