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Rudolph Shines Again

Apparently the sequel trend is not a new phenomenon, as this one was originally published in 1954.  Not sure why it’s been under wraps for more than 60 years, but it might have needed the new updated illustrations to bring it up to snuff.  I tend to be a bit suspicious of sequels, but I like this one.  It’s written by the original author of the original story, and shares the same style of being written in rhyming couplets.  There are a few times when the rhyme is a bit awkward, but I like the story:  it picks up in the preparation for another Christmas, when the other reindeer are jealous of Rudolph’s fame and have started to turn on him, so he is feeling left out.  He gets so depressed his nose goes out, and seeing himself as now of no use, he heads out, sad and lonely, on his own.  While wandering in the woods, he comes across a family of rabbits who have lost two of their little ones, so he sets out to help.  Forced to rely on his other skills (sniffing and listening), he still manages to find the lost rabbits, just in time to save them from the prowling wolves.  Upon reflections, he realizes that others have problems much bigger than his, and even without his glow he was able to be of help, so maybe he can still be of help to Santa.  And on the way home, through fog of course, having abandoned his whining and weeping and thinking of others, his glow comes back, and he returns to find the other deer sorry for their pranks, welcoming him home. It’s nicely sentimental  for the season, and has a good message.