Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer |
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Cover of one of the books of the Robert L. May story by Maxton Publishers, Inc.
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| First appearance | 1939 |
| Created by | Robert L. May |
| Voiced by | Billie Mae Richards (TV specials, 1964–1979) Kathleen Barr (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys) |
| Information | |
| Species | Reindeer |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | The Red-Nosed Reindeer |
| Family | Donner and Mrs. Donner (parents in 1964 TV special) Blitzen (father in 1998 film) Mitzi (mother in 1998 film) Rusty (brother in Holidaze) Arrow (cousin in 1998 film) Comet, Cupid and Dasher (uncles in 1998 film) Leroy, the Redneck Reindeer (cousin from the Joe Diffie song of the same name, on the album Mr. Christmas) Robbie (son in Robbie the Reindeer) |
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a famous fictional reindeer created by Robert L. May. He is often shown as the ninth and youngest of Santa Claus's reindeer. Rudolph uses his bright red nose to light the way for Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve, guiding the team through bad weather. Even though he was teased for his nose when he was young, its powerful glow helps Santa deliver presents safely. Rudolph's story teaches us that our unique qualities can be our greatest strengths.
Rudolph first appeared in a special booklet in 1939, created by May for the department store Montgomery Ward. His story is now owned by The Rudolph Company, LP. It has been turned into many popular forms, including a famous song by Johnny Marks, and beloved television specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July from Rankin/Bass Productions. There are also movies such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys. Rudolph has become a cherished part of Christmas folklore in many countries. In 2014, Rudolph celebrated his 75th anniversary, and the Rankin/Bass TV special celebrated its 50th anniversary. The United States Postal Service even released a series of postage stamps featuring Rudolph on November 6, 2014.
Contents
The Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
How Rudolph's Story Began
Rudolph was created in 1939 by Robert L. May for a company called Montgomery Ward, located in Chicago. Every Christmas, this store used to buy and give away storybooks. They decided it would save money to create their own book. May thought about names like Rollo or Reginald for the reindeer before choosing Rudolph. He picked a reindeer because his daughter loved the deer at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. May also shared that he felt a bit like Rudolph when he was a child, sometimes feeling different.
In its very first year, Montgomery Ward gave out 2.4 million copies of Rudolph's story! The story is written as a poem, much like the famous "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas). The rights to publish and reprint the book Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are managed by Pearson PLC.
The Inspiration Behind Rudolph
One day, while May was looking out his office window in downtown Chicago, a thick fog rolled in from Lake Michigan. This fog gave him a brilliant idea! He remembered thinking, "Suddenly I had it! A nose! A bright red nose that would shine through fog like a spotlight."
At first, some people had concerns about a reindeer with a bright red nose. However, May asked his friend and illustrator, Denver Gillen, to draw some "cute reindeer." Gillen's drawings showed a lively and friendly Rudolph, which helped convince everyone that the idea was wonderful.
Rudolph's First Books
The first widely available edition of Rudolph's story was published by Maxton Books in 1947. A follow-up story, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shines Again, came out in 1954. In 1992, Applewood Books published Rudolph's Second Christmas, which was a sequel Robert May wrote in 1947 but hadn't been published before. Later, in 2003, Penguin Books released a new version of the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with fresh artwork. Penguin also reprinted May's other Rudolph stories, including Rudolph Shines Again and Rudolph to the Rescue (which was the new title for Rudolph's Second Christmas).
Rudolph's Big Adventure
The story tells us about Rudolph, a young reindeer with a very special, glowing red nose. Other reindeer often made fun of him and left him out because of this unique feature. But one Christmas Eve, the weather was terrible, with thick fog making it hard to see. Santa Claus noticed Rudolph's bright nose and realized it could save Christmas! He asked Rudolph to lead his sleigh that night. Rudolph bravely agreed, and his shining nose guided Santa through the stormy weather. Because of his courage and helpfulness, Rudolph became a hero, and all the other reindeer finally admired him for his special gift.
See also
In Spanish: Rodolfo el reno para niños
- "Run Rudolph Run", a popular song by Chuck Berry about Rudolph
