| Move over Elf on a Shelf: you've got competition. I received Roaming Reindeer, by author Angela Meju, from PR by the Book for a review. As usual, I involved the kidlets in looking over review items meant for kids. My two youngest were very excited and wanted it read to them immediately, which we did. |
The story is about 2 reindeer, that offer to go out and act as naughty/nice judges for Santa, who is clearly overwhelmed. After a while, though, one of the reindeer starts to get job fatigue: he can't stand seeing the kids doing naughty things. It upsets him. So the reindeer pair devise a plan. I won't tell you what the plan is and ruin it for you, but suffice it to say, the included stuffed reindeer make it possible for you to reenact that plan in your home. The pair of reindeer spread their plan to all the other reindeer, pair them up, and send them out into the world. This becomes the standard for creating the naughty/nice list, according to the story.
The kids really enjoyed it; they got a kick out of the fact that it came with the reindeer and began brain-storming name ideas, but could only narrow down the list.
The kids really enjoyed it; they got a kick out of the fact that it came with the reindeer and began brain-storming name ideas, but could only narrow down the list.
I was impressed both with the idea, as in what you could do as a parent as an alternative to Elf on the Shelf, as well as the fact that the author decided to create something as an alternative, period. Elf on the Shelf is very popular and has been all over social media the last few Christmases. We have the Elf, an adorable plush girl version (because the cupie-doll version creeps me out), but I didn't get the book, so we were just winging it; I think I like Roaming Reindeer better, but this year will be the test, so we'll see!
1. What was the inspiration behind the book?
My children were just starting to understand the concept of Santa Claus, and I wanted to write a Christmas book they would enjoy reading year after year.
2. How did you decide to include two plush reindeer for families to enjoy?
We’ve tried other Christmas book traditions in our home and felt that they didn’t exactly cater to our schedules, and didn’t reinforce any positive behavior for children. I know that children tend to be visual learners, so I wanted to create cute, lovable reindeer who were visually identified as being together as a pair. Children associate 1 and 2 together, so if Reindeer 1 has disappeared, it is more of a visual reminder that the two aren’t together. I think that this allows children to be consciously aware of their behavior, while also teaching them about cause and effect. For children with siblings, it is a great tool for working together.
3. How does your family use Roaming Reindeer?
Well, my children were exposed to “Gus” and “Sam” (that’s what our Reindeer 1 and 2 are named) very early on—long before Christmas. Our Reindeer 1 and 2 do a lot of travelling, so we have a lot of pictures of them in various (and sometimes random) locations. My children LOVE to play with the reindeer but we officially start our Reindeer countdown after Thanksgiving.
4. What do you hope children get out of their experience with Roaming Reindeer?
Roaming Reindeer is not a tool for punishment, it’s an activity to help promote positive behavior. My hope is that children have fun playing with the reindeer and see them as friends who want to stick together. I’ve had parents joke with me saying that they want their reindeer to stick around all year long. My hope is that children will continue with these habits of teamwork and great behavior throughout the year.
My children were just starting to understand the concept of Santa Claus, and I wanted to write a Christmas book they would enjoy reading year after year.
2. How did you decide to include two plush reindeer for families to enjoy?
We’ve tried other Christmas book traditions in our home and felt that they didn’t exactly cater to our schedules, and didn’t reinforce any positive behavior for children. I know that children tend to be visual learners, so I wanted to create cute, lovable reindeer who were visually identified as being together as a pair. Children associate 1 and 2 together, so if Reindeer 1 has disappeared, it is more of a visual reminder that the two aren’t together. I think that this allows children to be consciously aware of their behavior, while also teaching them about cause and effect. For children with siblings, it is a great tool for working together.
3. How does your family use Roaming Reindeer?
Well, my children were exposed to “Gus” and “Sam” (that’s what our Reindeer 1 and 2 are named) very early on—long before Christmas. Our Reindeer 1 and 2 do a lot of travelling, so we have a lot of pictures of them in various (and sometimes random) locations. My children LOVE to play with the reindeer but we officially start our Reindeer countdown after Thanksgiving.
4. What do you hope children get out of their experience with Roaming Reindeer?
Roaming Reindeer is not a tool for punishment, it’s an activity to help promote positive behavior. My hope is that children have fun playing with the reindeer and see them as friends who want to stick together. I’ve had parents joke with me saying that they want their reindeer to stick around all year long. My hope is that children will continue with these habits of teamwork and great behavior throughout the year.
Along with the book, stuffed reindeer and lovely box to keep it all in (the packaging is really very well done, my mother was impressed too), I was given....A COUPON CODE!
Good until November 27, 2014, shop on the Roaming Reindeer website and use the code ROAM2014, which will give you $5.00 off the regular price, making it $29.95 NOVEMBER 21-27, 2014 ONLY.
Good until November 27, 2014, shop on the Roaming Reindeer website and use the code ROAM2014, which will give you $5.00 off the regular price, making it $29.95 NOVEMBER 21-27, 2014 ONLY.
This week was the Roaming Reindeer blog tour! Find them here:
On Twitter: @RoamingReindeer and using #RoamingReindeerBlogTour
and on Facebook.
Want to win a free copy of the book?
FOUR (4) ways to enter:
Leave a comment here, on this blog post. Please note in your comment all the ways you entered so I can check them out and keep track of your entries. :)
Go like my Facebook page here.
Follow me on Twitter: @Lara_McKusky
Find me on Instagram: @lalaland_blog (**I'm brand new on Instagram, specifically for LaLaLand so please come keep me company, give me some photos to look at/drool over and like!**)
On Twitter: @RoamingReindeer and using #RoamingReindeerBlogTour
and on Facebook.
Want to win a free copy of the book?
FOUR (4) ways to enter:
Leave a comment here, on this blog post. Please note in your comment all the ways you entered so I can check them out and keep track of your entries. :)
Go like my Facebook page here.
Follow me on Twitter: @Lara_McKusky
Find me on Instagram: @lalaland_blog (**I'm brand new on Instagram, specifically for LaLaLand so please come keep me company, give me some photos to look at/drool over and like!**)
Drawing will be November 29, 2014
to ensure delivery well before Christmas! :)
Last entries will be accepted at 5pm the 29th.
Thank you and
GOOD LUCK!
to ensure delivery well before Christmas! :)
Last entries will be accepted at 5pm the 29th.
Thank you and
GOOD LUCK!