When is the last time you watched that beloved Christmas classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Have you watched it as an adult? If not, do so. Notice anything? It’s amazing how many weird things jump out at a person when revisiting old favorites. For example: what kind of a Santa Claus is this holiday special portraying, exactly?? He’s a mean old man without a shred of a redeeming feature. He’s crass and rude and grumpy and prejudiced, and he never changes: he accepts Rudolph not because he sees the error of his judgmental ways, but because Rudolph is suddenly useful to him. It’s a bizarre story.
That said, Christmas is less than a week away and the two Louisville Barnes & Noble locations are putting on some special storytimes for the young’uns, starting tonight, December 19. Stories include Rick Bunsen’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and Charles Santore’s “The Night Before Christmas.” “Rudolph” tells the story of a young reindeer with a bright red nose. He doesn’t fit in with the rest of society, so he embarks on a series of adventures before returning to the North Pole to save the day! “The Night Before Christmas” is Santore’s classic poem about a very special visitation on the most wonderful night of the most wonderful time of the year. The event starts at 7:00 and pajamas are encouraged.
The Summit Barnes & Noble location also has an event on December 20: The Elf on the Shelf [4], an interactive gathering involving hide-and-seek with an elf. This even starts at 11:00.
Barnes & Noble is located at 801 S. Hurstbourne Parkway [5] and 4100 Summit Plaza Drive [6] (this is the location featuring “The Elf on the Shelf”).
Image courtesy of the B&N website.