Reindeer games, p.1
Reindeer Games, page 1
Welcome to ALADDIN QUIX!
If you are looking for fast, fun-to-read stories with colorful characters, lots of kid-friendly humor, easy-to-follow action, entertaining story lines, and lively illustrations, then ALADDIN QUIX is for you!
But wait, there’s more!
If you’re also looking for stories with tables of contents; word lists; about-the-book questions; 64, 80, or 96 pages; short chapters; short paragraphs; and large fonts, then ALADDIN QUIX is definitely for you!
ALADDIN QUIX: The next step between ready to reads and longer, more challenging chapter books, for readers five to eight years old.
To the wonderful Newsom family
—A. K.
Cast of Characters
Andy Snowden: An Elf Academy student
Jay: Andy’s best friend
Ms. Dow: The toy workshop teacher at Elf Academy
Zahara: An Elf Academy student
Roger: The rancher at Reindeer Ranch
Susu: Andy’s twin sister
Kal: An Elf Academy student
Nicole: Susu’s best friend
Molly: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch
Wally: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch and twin brother of Molly
C. J.: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch
Eli: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch
Christy: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch
Melody: One of the reindeer at Reindeer Ranch
1 The Countdown
Everyone knows that December is a very busy month at the North Pole toy-building workshop.
Last minute details like tying ribbons, sewing buttons, gluing wheels, and painting birdhouses keep the elves hopping all day and all night long.
It wasn’t until Santa and his reindeer took off for their Christmas Eve flight that the elves felt they could rest.
But making toys wasn’t the only job the elves had at Elf Academy.
During the other eleven months of the year they planted trees, designed snow sculptures, tasted candy-cane apple pie recipes, and made sure the reindeer were ready for their ride with Santa.
And that’s what was on Andy Snowden’s mind as he stared at the calendar on the classroom wall.
There was one date circled: the day that the second graders in Elf Academy would get to visit Santa’s reindeer.
“Our class trip to Reindeer Ranch is in exactly seven days, two hours, nine minutes, and twelve seconds,” Andy told his friend Jay as he pointed to the clock. “I can’t wait!”
“No, it’s not,” Jay said. “It’s in seven days, two hours, nine minutes, and seven seconds.”
“No, it’s not,” Andy answered. “It’s in seven days, two hours, nine minutes, and two seconds.”
They both laughed.
Ms. Dow, their teacher, overheard the boys, and she laughed too. Then she said, “Actually, you’re both wrong.”
“We are?” they asked.
“I’m afraid so,” she told them. “The day of the visit has been changed.”
“It has?” they replied.
“Yes. We are now going to Reindeer Ranch in ten…”
“Days?” Andy guessed.
“Weeks?” Jay wondered.
Ms. Dow smiled. “Not quite, Jay. Our class will be going to Reindeer Ranch in ten… minutes. We are going today.”
Jay and Andy smiled and yelled,
Andy did a triple cartwheel across the workshop, landing in a pile of giant plush monster toys the elves had just finished building.
“Are you okay?” Andy’s classmate Zahara asked.
“Okay? I’m better than okay! I’m terrific! After all, we’re going to Reindeer Ranch in ten minutes!” The rest of the elves cheered.
“Actually, that’s not true,” Ms. Dow said. “We’re going in nine minutes and forty-seven seconds….”
2 At the Ranch
Reindeer Ranch was one of the most popular places at the North Pole. Of course, seeing reindeer wasn’t unusual around Elf Academy and its surroundings.
But the reindeer who were at the ranch chose to be there, as they wanted to discover their magical power to fly!
They knew it would take lots of hard work, but they wanted to travel around the world and help Santa deliver joy, cheer, and gifts.
The ranch was a short walk from Elf Academy. Giant fir trees towered above the elves, and Andy always loved looking up at his favorite trees.
“Hey, Jay,” he said. “Isn’t that a snowy…?”
“Did you just say SNOW?” Jay laughed as he threw a snowball at Andy.
“Not fair, you caught me off guard.” Andy giggled. He quickly made a snowball and tossed it at Jay.
“Don’t even think about it, boys,” Ms. Dow warned. “There’ll be plenty of time for snowball fun after school.”
The best friends grinned and joined the rest of their classmates in line.
“Welcome to Reindeer Ranch!” Roger the Rancher called out as he greeted the elves. “So glad you could come by.”
“Thank you, Roger. We are all very glad to be here,” Ms. Dow said.
“Especially me!” Andy said as he held out a handful of candy. “I’m Andy. Would you like a gumdrop?”
“No, thank you, Andy,” Roger answered.
“Well, okay,” Andy told him. “That’s my twin sister, Susu, and my friend Jay, and there’s Kal, and Nicole….”
Ms. Dow gently shushed Andy, but Roger said he was happy to meet the elves.
“You’re twins?” Roger asked Andy and Susu. “We actually have a pair of reindeer twins here on the ranch. Come on, follow me and you can meet them.”
Roger led the way across a field to where the reindeer were grazing.
“Is it mealtime?” Andy asked.
“For reindeer, it’s pretty much always mealtime,” Roger told him. “Most of them eat more than ten pounds of plants, leaves, and other greens every day.”
“That’s a lot of food. It’s a wonder they can fly!” Ms. Dow noted.
“Well, not all reindeer can fly. After all, this is Santa’s very special herd, and they have unique, magical skills,” Roger said. “But guess what—all reindeer across the globe are very speedy. In fact, they can run about fifty miles an hour!”
“Wow! That’s fast!” the elves said.
Roger then took the class for a close-up look at the reindeer. As they strolled through the field, he introduced each reindeer by name.
“This is Molly and her twin brother, Wally. Next are C. J., Eli, Christy, and Melody.”
“How do the reindeer get their names?” Nicole wondered aloud.
“Believe it or not, they pick them themselves,” Roger told her.
“They can talk?” Zahara asked.
“Absolutely!” Roger said.
“Yes, if we can fly, don’t you think we can talk, too?” Molly said.
“I guess I never thought about that,” Zahara said.
Roger explained that just like the elves were learning to be great toy builders, the reindeer were attending classes to be at their best.
“The reindeer take lessons in teamwork, cooperation, following directions, maps, and most of all… flying,” Roger said. “By December 24, they need to be fully prepared to lead Santa’s sleigh to homes all around the world.”
“How are they doing?” Ms. Dow wanted to know.
“Very nicely,” Roger said. “Why don’t you all get to know the reindeer better? Each of you should walk around and have a chat with one of them.”
The elves couldn’t believe their ears. Zahara had a nice talk with Molly.
Susu spoke to Wally.
Kal and C. J. teamed up for a conversation, and so did Jay and Eli. Nicole chatted with Christy.
Lastly, Andy stepped up to Melody and greeted her with a smile.
“Hi,” Andy said softly. “Would you like to taste a gumdrop? I’ve got two pockets full of them.”
“YUCK! No, thank you,” Melody said. “Reindeer don’t really like gumdrops. They always get stuck in our teeth, and it’s hard to get them out. And I’m not in the mood for sweets right now.”
Andy asked her if she was sick. Melody told him she felt fine. But she did have one problem, and because she was one of Santa’s reindeer, it was a big problem.
“You see, Andy,” she whispered. “I can’t fly.”
3 Grounded
“What do you mean you can’t fly?” Andy asked as he chomped on some gumdrops.
“As Roger said, flying takes special, magical skills… and they are skills that I’m afraid I just don’t have,” Melody answered. She fought back tears.
For once, Andy didn’t have a joke or silly story to cheer up Melody.
“Well,” he said after a few moments, “the first time I tried to build a scooter, it didn’t scoot. The first time I built a rocking horse, it didn’t rock.”
Andy added, “And the first time I built a sno-cone maker, it didn’t make ‘sno.’ But I kept trying, and after a while, I learned what to do.”
He looked at Melody and said, “Now my scooters always scoot and my rocking horses rock. And you should taste my incredibly delicious sno-cones!”
“That’s great, Andy,” Melody said. “I’m happy for you. I try and try, but I never manage to leave the ground.”
“Never?” he asked.
“Never. Molly and Wally soar up among the clouds. All the others do too. I just stay right here on earth and watch them fly. So, I have given up,” Melody said sadly.
“No!” Andy told her. “You can’t g
“That is a good way of looking at things,” Melody said, “and my mama has said the same to me. But as hard as you work in the toy-building workshop, it really doesn’t take magic.”
Andy was shocked. He didn’t know what to say. He was speechless.
Melody continued, “Andy, I think you are very nice. But I have to face the facts. I don’t think there’s any chance that I’ll ever make it into the air.”
Just as Melody spoke, she and Andy heard a…
They saw the other reindeer taking off, each pulling a mini sleigh with an elf inside. There was great laughter in the sky as the reindeer flew higher and higher.
“I’m sorry you picked an earthbound reindeer to talk to, Andy,” Melody said. “I’m also very sorry I can’t take you for a ride like that.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Andy said. “Because I believe that you can take me for a ride, and I absolutely believe that you will take me for a ride! I just know it!”
Andy was sure Melody would fly one day. But he was also sure he didn’t know how it would happen. He wanted to help; he just didn’t know how.
4 Magic Time
While his classmates and the other reindeer were soaring above the ranch, Andy led Melody to the open field where the reindeer usually practiced flying.
“Tell me everything you’ve learned in flying lessons,” Andy said.
“Well,” Melody began, “Roger tells us to imagine ourselves flying high.”
“And?” Andy asked.
“I do that,” Melody said. “I imagine I am in the sky, looking down on Elf Academy and the Clauses’ house. And best of all, I imagine I am part of the team that will be delivering toys all around the world.”
Andy couldn’t help but smile, and he nodded. Andy had also dreamed of accompanying Santa on Christmas Eve. Now, that would be a dream come true!
He asked if Roger had given Melody any special words to say before trying to take off.
“Yes,” Melody said. “He told me to say three times, ‘I can make it to the sky, a jump, a leap, and then I fly!’ But I tried reciting that and didn’t go anywhere.”
Andy thought for a moment. “How about taking a running start?” he said.
“I’ve tried that. Watch me,” Melody replied. She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and galloped down the field. Andy could hear her saying,
“I can make it to the sky, a jump, a leap, and then I fly!”
Melody ran faster and faster, but as she zoomed out of sight, Andy could still hear her hooves—clippity-clippity-clop—stomping on the ground. He knew that meant that she was running, not flying.
“Come back, Melody!” Andy shouted. Wow, she sure did cover a lot of ground in a hurry, he thought. But too bad it didn’t help her take off.
Andy watched as Melody tried again and again, without success. A few minutes later, she slowly and sadly walked back to where he was waiting.
“See, Andy?” she said. “I told you it was no use. You can’t deny that I can’t fly.”
Just then, Molly flew overhead with Zahara in her cart. “Andy, look at me!” Zahara called out. “Molly took me to see the polar bears!”
Melody sighed. “That will never be me,” she said. “I think I should go and live with the polar bears. Everyone knows they can’t fly.”
5 Lunch Bunch
One by one the reindeer and the mini sleighs landed, and the elves jumped out, so excited that they were all chattering at once.
“That was an awesome ride, Eli,” Jay said happily. “Maybe I can come back next week.”
Susu said to Wally, “I’m so glad we’re friends.”
“Class, over here,” Ms. Dow called to them. “Reindeer Ranch is treating us to a special lunch. Each of you will be able to have your meal with your reindeer.
“But remember”—she paused, looking straight at Andy—“you may not eat gumdrops for lunch!”
Everyone laughed, even Andy.
“No problem, Ms. Dow,” he answered. “Melody already told me that they’re way too sticky.”
The elves quickly lined up for their lunch bags.
“Let’s sit over here, Wally,” Susu said, pointing to a hill. “Nicole, Christy, come sit with us.” Jay and Eli walked over to a group of picnic tables, with Kal and C. J. following.
“Let’s hurry up and finish eating so we can all play a game of reindeer and elf soccer,” Jay said.
“Well, that’s pretty clear, isn’t it, Andy?” Melody told him. “The reindeer over there have found their magic, and then there’s me. Maybe we should take our lunch somewhere else.”
Andy really wanted to play soccer with his friends, but he and Melody trotted over to a nearby barn, painted in all colors of the rainbow.
Wow, Andy thought, this is serious. Maybe I should tell some jokes? Or try to catch some gumdrops in my mouth with my eyes shut? Will that make Melody feel better?
“This is one of my favorite spots at the ranch,” Melody said, gazing at the barn. “Have you ever seen a real rainbow, Andy?”
He nodded. “A couple years ago when I was ice-skating with Susu and my brother, Craig, we saw one that took up the whole sky. Have you?”
“Oh yes,” she answered. “I’ve seen more than I can count. They are so magical.”
“Yes, they are!” Andy said, jumping up, his ears starting to tingle. “What else do you think is magical, Melody?”
Melody thought for a moment. “I love snowflakes. Did you know that no two are the same? And that reindeer eyes are gold in summer, but turn blue in winter? That’s sort of magical too.”
“It sure is! Well, how about Christmas? Do you believe in the magic of Christmas?” Andy asked.
“What a silly question. Of course I believe,” Melody said.
“And do you believe in the magic of Santa as he flies around the globe?” Andy wondered.
“I believe in that, too.” Melody nodded.
Andy did a backflip! “Yahoo, Melody! That’s elf-errific! Now you just need to believe that you are part of that magic. You are part of what makes Santa able to deliver toys to everyone.”
“I am?” Melody asked him.
“Yes, you are,” Andy confirmed. “Without reindeer like you, the sleigh can’t fly, and Santa can’t deliver all the toys. You have to believe in the magic that you help create.”
“I never really thought about it that way before, Andy,” Melody said. “I guess it’s worth a try.”
6 Goody Gumdrops!
Melody stood up. She shook herself off, started to run, and then stopped in her tracks.
She looked back at Andy. “Please say Roger’s words with me, okay?”
Andy grinned. “Sure,” he told her, “but how about if we say this instead?
“Each of us has magic in our heart; believing in it is just the start.”
Before Melody could even finish singing, she lifted up off the ground and flew a few feet into the air.
“Andy, is this real?” she asked. “Am I actually flying?”
Andy quickly ran over to the other elves.
“Look up! Look at Melody! She’s done it! She’s flying!” he announced, and pointed to the sky. Everyone watched as Melody started soaring high among the clouds.
When Melody finally touched down, the other reindeer excitedly greeted her.
“That was incredible, Melody!” Christy said. “You look like you’ve been flying forever!”
Andy didn’t know reindeer could blush, but he was sure Melody was blushing with happiness. She looked at Andy and winked.
“Well,” Roger said, walking over to the group, “this has been a very special day. Thank you all for coming. Before you head back to Elf Academy, I’d like to say an extra thank-you to Andy.”
“Really?” Ms. Dow asked him. “What did he do?”
