Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight Read Aloud

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· 234 ratings · 39 reviews

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Apr 05, 2011 Andrea Thorpe rated it it was amazing

This is one of the funniest children's books I've ever read...the illustrations were crack up funny for my 4 year old! This is one of the funniest children's books I've ever read...the illustrations were crack up funny for my 4 year old! ...more

Jan 01, 2019 Meg McGregor rated it it was amazing

This is one of the girl's favorite holiday stories!

It is so funny and the pictures are hilarious; the girls and I were laughing and giggling throughout reading it!

Then Lexi read it to her younger sister; I could hear them giggling all over again!

This is one of the girl's favorite holiday stories!

It is so funny and the pictures are hilarious; the girls and I were laughing and giggling throughout reading it!

Then Lexi read it to her younger sister; I could hear them giggling all over again!

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Dec 05, 2017 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: PreK-Kindergarten

I honestly loved this book. I read it with PreK. It left a lot of room for interaction with the kids so as long as you have kids willing to participate it should go over well.

What is with illustrators not knowing the difference between monkeys (they have TAILS) and chimpanzees (NO tails)?

Dec 18, 2017 Miss Sarah rated it really liked it

I love this book about what animal is right to guide santa's sleigh. Kids really get into who should not do it. toddler and up I love this book about what animal is right to guide santa's sleigh. Kids really get into who should not do it. toddler and up ...more

Dec 23, 2017 Monique rated it really liked it

So funny, great illustrations, many opportunities for extensions.

Nov 26, 2018 Katie rated it liked it

Amazing last page!

Cute idea, but I didn't enjoy the illustration style.

Amazing last page!

Cute idea, but I didn't enjoy the illustration style.

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Fun to read out loud because you can involve the kids easily, but it wasn't my favorite Fun to read out loud because you can involve the kids easily, but it wasn't my favorite ...more

Santa tries out different animals to pull his sleigh before he decides on reindeer. Cute.

Dec 07, 2020 Beth rated it it was amazing

Funny Christmas book for animal lovers.

Dec 17, 2020 Gena Lott rated it it was amazing

A fun look at how Santa decides who can pull his sleigh.
A great read-aloud.

Jan 03, 2021 Renata rated it it was amazing

I read all eight of Jerry Pallotta's holiday books to my grandkids and we loved them all! The glorious color illustrations by David Biedrzycki are amazing. I read all eight of Jerry Pallotta's holiday books to my grandkids and we loved them all! The glorious color illustrations by David Biedrzycki are amazing. ...more

May 19, 2012 Beverly rated it really liked it

This is an amusing book in which Santa tries out many different animal teams before settling on reindeer; e. g., tigers, dolphins, mice, etc. Of course, no animal is just right until he chooses reindeer. The text is very minimal, with only a couple of sentences per page, making this a good choice for very young children. The illustrations by David Biedrzycki do a great job of capturing and even exaggerating the humor of the text. Most of the illustrations are in double-page spreads, further exte This is an amusing book in which Santa tries out many different animal teams before settling on reindeer; e. g., tigers, dolphins, mice, etc. Of course, no animal is just right until he chooses reindeer. The text is very minimal, with only a couple of sentences per page, making this a good choice for very young children. The illustrations by David Biedrzycki do a great job of capturing and even exaggerating the humor of the text. Most of the illustrations are in double-page spreads, further extending the humor. ...more

Dec 30, 2012 Brandi rated it it was amazing

The gist : Santa needs help pulling his sleigh. He tries lots of different animals to help him with the task.
MY rating : 3.5 stars (ish)
my PRESCHOOL STUDENT'S rating +5 stars. They absolutely LOVE it!
Without question, their favorite part is when Santa tries to use Monkeys. Santa gets after them and says "Stop it. Don't look at my underwear!"
My favorite part is when Santa tries Rhinos. I always ask the kids if they think their mommies and daddies would like Santa to come, if he made a giant hole The gist : Santa needs help pulling his sleigh. He tries lots of different animals to help him with the task.
MY rating : 3.5 stars (ish)
my PRESCHOOL STUDENT'S rating +5 stars. They absolutely LOVE it!
Without question, their favorite part is when Santa tries to use Monkeys. Santa gets after them and says "Stop it. Don't look at my underwear!"
My favorite part is when Santa tries Rhinos. I always ask the kids if they think their mommies and daddies would like Santa to come, if he made a giant hole in their house! I also really enjoy the hidden pictures. ...more

This is a great book to read around Christmas. Santa needs help flying his sleigh, so he tries thirteen different animals. Each animal doesn't work out for their own reasons. I know of a good visualization strategy that has been used with the book. Have the students draw a picture of each animal (without letting them see the pictures). Then go back and re-read the story allowing them to see the pictures. At the end hang the pictures up and have a gallery walk. I have heard that students respond This is a great book to read around Christmas. Santa needs help flying his sleigh, so he tries thirteen different animals. Each animal doesn't work out for their own reasons. I know of a good visualization strategy that has been used with the book. Have the students draw a picture of each animal (without letting them see the pictures). Then go back and re-read the story allowing them to see the pictures. At the end hang the pictures up and have a gallery walk. I have heard that students respond well to the activity. ...more

Santa needs help with his sleigh and considers various animals for the job. The tigers almost eat him, the skunks are too smelly, and so on. Young listeners will enjoy seeing all the different animals like dolphins attempt to pull the sleigh. At the end, the reindeer are chosen. Observant readers will notice and appreciate that the lead reindeer has a bright red nose. An entertaining Christmas story that will be a fun read aloud for a holiday story time.

Apr 30, 2009 jacky rated it really liked it

A classmate brought this book in as part of her Literacy History presentation on her daughters. This was a very fun book. I really enjoyed the silliness of using different kinds of animals to pull Santa's sleigh. It is a great animal book as well as a great Christmas book, without getting all deep about the meaning of Christmas. A classmate brought this book in as part of her Literacy History presentation on her daughters. This was a very fun book. I really enjoyed the silliness of using different kinds of animals to pull Santa's sleigh. It is a great animal book as well as a great Christmas book, without getting all deep about the meaning of Christmas. ...more

Dec 09, 2015 Ivy rated it it was amazing

This is a great book on prediction and problem solving for the holidays with the littles. They really enjoy seeing Santa's journey to the reindeer. The illustrations are so detailed, they can's stay in their places, because they just have to point out that thing you didn't discuss. It's a great book! This is a great book on prediction and problem solving for the holidays with the littles. They really enjoy seeing Santa's journey to the reindeer. The illustrations are so detailed, they can's stay in their places, because they just have to point out that thing you didn't discuss. It's a great book! ...more

Nov 16, 2009 Amanda rated it it was ok

This book is okay, young children might enjoy it.

I read this book while I was in the library. My friend and I were reading little kids books to pass time and see if they were any good. This one was okay but the part where the butterflys guided the sleigh was kinda weird.

Feb 01, 2011 Vivian rated it really liked it

Jerry Pallotta has found his groove with his hilariousChristmas and Halloween "supposes". Gotta love David Biedrzycki's brightly dramatice & whimsical illustrations. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of this. Jerry Pallotta has found his groove with his hilariousChristmas and Halloween "supposes". Gotta love David Biedrzycki's brightly dramatice & whimsical illustrations. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of this. ...more

Dec 19, 2008 Cindi rated it it was amazing

We thought this was clever and some of the pictures and ideas were very funny.

Dec 23, 2008 Melanie rated it really liked it

December 2012: Reread as part of our "24 Days of Christmas Stories."

December 2008: So that's why Santa chose reindeer to guide his sleigh! My kids love this, especially my 2 1/2 year old!

December 2012: Reread as part of our "24 Days of Christmas Stories."

December 2008: So that's why Santa chose reindeer to guide his sleigh! My kids love this, especially my 2 1/2 year old!

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Jan 20, 2009 Mary Ann rated it it was amazing

Very cute book. It looks at the personalities of different animals and how they would work as guides for Santa's sleigh. Very cute book. It looks at the personalities of different animals and how they would work as guides for Santa's sleigh. ...more

Dec 06, 2009 Holly rated it really liked it

This is a cute one. Love the illustrations.

Nov 10, 2010 Amanda rated it liked it

Very cute. Santa looks at various options for sleigh pullers, all with their problems. Funny for a 4 year old and older, maybe over the head of younger kids.

Dec 01, 2010 Mira Domsky rated it really liked it

Silly little story of Santa trying out different animals to pull his sleigh. Good for storytime.

Dec 09, 2010 Jessica rated it liked it

Great to use as a writing prompt! My kids really enjoy coming up with silly animals to guide their sleigh! Funny book about how Santa decided on Reindeer!

Nov 14, 2011 Diane rated it it was amazing

another great book making the little one laugh and laugh!

Dec 22, 2011 Jennybug rated it really liked it

This book is perfect for younger children. They will laugh and giggle as they think of all the different animals that could be pulling Santa's sleigh. The art work is just perfect.
This book is perfect for younger children. They will laugh and giggle as they think of all the different animals that could be pulling Santa's sleigh. The art work is just perfect.
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My full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to My full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.

After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.

My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.

While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie

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