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Last Stop On The Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck & Karl James Mountford

I first saw Last Stop On The Reindeer Express at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year and loved Karl James Mountford’s beautiful illustrations with their cutouts and flaps. This wonderful, festive, magical adventure is full of love and warmth and helps children understand that sometimes families may have to spend the Christmas season apart.

The Story: Mia has made Daddy a card but as he’s away Mum says that he won’t get it in time for Christmas. While she’s at the Christmas Market Mia discovers a mysterious postbox. She turns the knob on the front and discovers The Reindeer Express. A magical reindeer ride follows until deep in the mountains they discover a small lodge which smells of Christmas…

The Reindeer Express is reached through a mysterious postbox and time in the real world stands still as Mia makes her magical journey over the sea, above a big city and on to the snowy mountains where she personally delivers her card to Daddy before flying back to spend Christmas alone with Mum.

Cutouts and flaps to lift lead us through the story as we follow Mia on her reindeer journey. It’s a journey that leads to precious time with Daddy and gives Mia the comfort she needs before Christmas. Mia flies through a variety of landscapes before arriving at her destination and we love the muted colours of the illustrations and the way that different senses are evoked in the text. Daddy smells just like the Christmas Market.

Karl James Mountford’s beautiful illustrations with their muted earthy tones add festive warmth to the story. My daughter loves the ‘Info Squirrel’ with his little satchel and I love the spread when Mia waves goodbye to Daddy and realises that lots of children can’t be with their loved ones at Christmas.

This sturdy hardback book with its gorgeous cutout cover and thick creamy pages would make a lovely Christmas present for a child who may be spending the Christmas season apart from a special family member or friend.

Age Range: 4 +

Author: Maudie Powell-Tuck / Illustrator: Karl James Mountford

Thank you to Little Tiger Press for sending us a review copy of this gorgeous, gorgeous book.

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26 responses to “Last Stop On The Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck & Karl James Mountford”

  1. Acorn Books avatar
    Acorn Books

    This looks like such a gorgeous book, the illustrations look so stylish. A great idea behind the story too that will be useful for so many. #readwithme

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It‘s a really important story for so many children.

      Reply
  2. Anne avatar
    Anne

    Awww kind of sad but also beautiful. I’d love to take a look at this book.

    #TriedTested

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      Mia is only sad at the very beginning of the story. Her adventure helps her to understand that she’s not alone in her situation.

      Reply
  3. BookBairn avatar
    BookBairn

    This is such a beautiful book! #readwithme

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      Gorgeous isn’t it, we love Karl James Mountford’s illustrations 🙂

      Reply
  4. Yet Another Blogging Mummy avatar
    Yet Another Blogging Mummy

    What a lovely seasonal book. And so true that not everyone is with their loved ones at Christmas #readwithme

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It’s especially hard for children to understand if a parent has to be away at a special time and we love the way that Last Stop On The Reindeer Express can help them to understand that they’re not alone 🙂

      Reply
  5. The Reading Residence avatar
    The Reading Residence

    This sounds absolutely magical, a beautiful festive story.

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It is, the story adds magic to Mia’s sadness and leads her to understand that she’s not the only child missing a loved one at Christmas.

      Reply
  6. Fiona Cambouropoulos avatar
    Fiona Cambouropoulos

    What a wonderful sounding book and as you say perfect for a child missing someone close at Christmas #TriedTested

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It’s lovely to find a book that acknowledges that Christmas can be difficult for children who are away from parents at Christmas time.

      Reply
  7. Sarah MumofThree World avatar
    Sarah MumofThree World

    This looks and sounds like a beautiful story. One for my little nephews I think!

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It is beautiful and very different to any other Christmas story we’ve read.

      Reply
  8. Cheryl | Time To Craft avatar
    Cheryl | Time To Craft

    I do love a book with great illustrations as well as a lovely message too. I can see it being a Christmas favourite. Christmas smell and satchel carrying squirrels. What’s not to love? #MMBC

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      The squirrel is very very cute, it’s just one of the little details in the illustrations that makes the story so magical 🙂

      Reply
  9. Chantelle Hazelden avatar
    Chantelle Hazelden

    I really want to get this one for my lot! The front cover alone looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing with #readwithme

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      The front cover is a beautiful cut out too, it’s really perfect for a Christmas present 🙂

      Reply
  10. Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs avatar
    Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs

    What a magical book. I love the flap type books as they make the story just that little more exciting. I am sure this lovely story will be a great comfort for little ones who will be missing a parent at Christmas 🙂

    Thanks so much for sharing with #MMBC. Hope to see you Monday x

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      The flaps are perfectly integrated into the illustrations and give intriguing little peeks into the next page of the story 🙂

      We know several military families and a parent is often away, this would make a great Christmas present for the children in these families.

      Reply
  11. Debbie avatar
    Debbie

    Hi Catherine, as an adult it makes me sad that anyone has to spend Christmas apart from their loved ones, but that’s life and it happens. This book would be great comfort to a child who is apart from a loved one at this family orientated time of year. I love the description ‘smells of Christmas’, There can’t be many people who don’t have a smell that reminds them of Christmas.

    Thank you for linking up with the #MMBC.

    xx

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      It is sad that some children can’t spend Christmas with a parent and we know military families where this can be the case, a book like this can help younger children realise that they’re not alone in this situation.

      ‘Smells of Christmas’ conjures up all sorts of warm, wonderful aromas doesn’t it 🙂

      Reply
  12. Kate avatar
    Kate

    It is such a magical book! Beautiful!!

    Reply
    1. Catherine avatar
      Catherine

      Gorgeous isn’t it! It’s great that children who will be away from a parent over Christmas have a story that they can relate to.

      Reply
      1. Kate avatar
        Kate

        Will be very useful for so many 🙂 #readwithme

        Reply
        1. Catherine avatar
          Catherine

          Often families can’t be together over Christmas for various reasons and this book can help children realise that they’re not alone in this situation.

          Reply