Reindeer Ronaldo (named after the footballer) is training for the speed flying test at school. He really wants to become the fastest flying reindeer in history.

Near to where the reindeer’s train is the ‘Forest of Doom’ which is filled with wolves. The reindeer are forbidden from entering the forest, nor are they allowed to fly over it as the wolves are forever hungry and there are plenty of reindeer’s that have been eaten by them.

One day Ronaldo comes face to face with one of the wolves. He soon realises that the wolf is just a pup. She tells him that she has lost her mum and dad and doesn’t know how to find them. Ronaldo and his best friend Rudi decide to help the little wolf pup find her family, but can Ronaldo both train to be the fastest and look after a little pup until they can find her family too?

Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher is the second book in the Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer series by Maxine Sylvester. I haven’t read the first book but all the books can be read as standalone’s so it didn’t hinder my reading.

Ronaldo or Ronny as his friends call him is a cadet at the local flying school. His classmates are Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Prancer, and Rudolph (Rudi). They are all training to be the fastest flying reindeer and take the gold medal.

The book is all about friendship and about helping and caring for one another. Although Ronaldo is at first scared of the little wolf pup after all the stories he’s been told about the wolves, he soon realises that she needs his help. In return, the little pup also helps Ronaldo out when he needs help too. Hopefully, the plot will have children learning all about being kind and helpful.

The illustrations are really beautiful and colourful. They truly do bring the story to life. I also love some of the faces that Ronaldo pulls – These did give me the giggles.

Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher is a lot of fun and is very enjoyable from beginning to end. There are more stories available in the series and I hope to read more of them in the future too.

About the Author

Maxine Sylvester was born in London, England. She grew up with a passion for Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. She also loved anything Disney and enjoyed drawing the characters.

Maxine’s love of ‘fun’ art grew and she had the privilege of being mentored by cartoonist and caricaturist, Steve Chadburn. She completed further studies in children’s book illustration with talented artist and illustrator, Jan Nesbitt.

She has just updated all the illustrations for The Reindeer Flying Academy – they are now all in glorious colour.

What did you think of Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!