Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Raj Kaur Khaira, illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska, Bonnier, $15.99.
Diversity matters, especially at Christmas, for Khaira. She asks a legitimate question: people from all over the world celebrate Christmas – so why don’t we see more variety in books about the festive season?
According to the lawyer and operations specialist who is passionate about children’s literacy and education, diversity is important all year round, in every element of life, but it is especially important at Christmas.
The Night the Reindeer Saved Christmas celebrates female reindeers and features a Claus family of colour.
Raj Kaur Khaira explains the importance of representation when it comes to children’s Christmas books. Learning starts at any age.
“… the next time you see a South Asian Santa, or a Black Mrs Claus; this isn’t political correctness, or a publisher trying to appeal to a new audience by being ‘woke’, this is in fact a much more likely representation of the Christmas family than any other.”
As the storyline unfolds, it’s almost Christmas Eve and the rockets on Mr Claus’s sleigh have exploded! With just hours to go, he sets out to find a creature that can help him deliver Christmas gifts across the world. The polar bears are strong, but they’re too sleepy. The narwhals are fast, but the presents get too wet. The reindeer might just be the perfect creature to help … especially when Mr Claus discovers that the females have a secret … they can fly!
A point of discovery is the fact that unlike male reindeers, female reindeers keep their antlers all year round!
An inspiration for the book is obvious and this fact also links to her work in empowering girls and women. Brightly illustrated by Nowowiejska, there’s more information about animals in the book, making for understanding that’s witty, festive and a lot of fun!
