You know the song and you remember Sam, Burl Ives, telling you the story of this ninth reindeer. The most famous reindeer of all. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He has stood the test of time. A symbol of the holiday season, a beloved tale of saving the day, and becoming a hero to children all around the world. But have you ever wondered where his story starts? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was designed in 1939 as a marketing ploy by Montgomery Wards to sell more toys during the holidays.
The original story is slightly different from the one we all know so well. The story was written in a similar rhythmic structure as Twas the Night Before Christmas and Rudolph was not part of Santa’s herd. In fact, Santa did not meet Rudolph until he was delivering gifts to all the good little animals, good girls, and boys around the world. That night the sky was covered in a fog as thick as white fizz, concealing all the stars, and hiding the moon. There was nothing for Santa to use as a compass. Before arriving at Rudolph’s house Santa had gotten lost, tangled the sleigh in treetops, and almost got struck by a four-motored plane! When Santa finally reached Rudolph’s home, he asked him to guide his sleigh that night and the rest is history.
This quirky, picked-on, reindeer with his shiny nose quickly fell into the hearts of shoppers. It was not long before Rudolph developed his own brand away from the large retailer. He is one of my favorite holiday characters of all time! I have the Build-a-Bear, the complete holiday figurine set, and I even had the opportunity to go to Gaylord’s ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. However, the one thing I never had was a copy of the original story. After years of searching, getting out bid on eBay, and always being a dime short, I finally stumbled upon a copy! This holiday season, the Stewart household will continue the tradition of cookies, cocoa, and a book with the original telling on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer story by Robert L. May.
From Literacy Coalition of Central Texas staff, board, and families, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
Reading Difficulty & Comprehension:
Average book length of 30 pages
Flesch Reading Ease Score 100
Reading Level – 5th Grade (Very Easy to Read)
Workforce & Employment:
Toys Maker, Delivery Person, Animal Keeper
Family Dynamics:
Being the Youngest and Different from the Herd