‘Schmuck the Buck’ by Exo Books

Schmuck the Buck

A new take on the Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer story, featuring Larry the Jewish caribou, who gets bullied at school. Treated badly by pretty much everyone, he nevertheless saves the day in time for Christmas with a shrewdly sent message.

Written by someone called Exo Books, this is both a curious and charming little tome with a decidedly festive mood. Using language that’ll entertain adults it should appeal to children too, although smaller kids won’t get the humour. This did make me wonder exactly who the book is aimed at, as my first impression was of a picture book designed for young children.

The story is a lot of fun, giving a new slant on the traditional tale. Having said that, I felt the rhyming pattern used didn’t always work, which irritated me a bit as it would have been so easy to put right. On the other hand, the artwork (by illustrator and cartoonist Karina Shor), is an absolute delight, making the paperback (and presumably the hardback versions), well worth the price.

All in all, a charming little book that’ll make an interesting addition to the Christmas pressie list.