Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy
Maxine Sylvester

Genre
Children

Publication Date
16/12/2016

Series Name
Ronaldo’s Flying Adventures

Book Number
1

About the Book

A young flying cadet dreams of becoming Santa’s chief reindeer. But first he must go to school and compete in the ultimate flying challenge. Ronaldo wants to win the endurance test more than anything else in the world. But Arctic-like conditions prove more difficult than he ever imagined, and after only a few circuits self-doubt creeps into his mind.

For stamina and fitness are not enough to triumph, only self-belief and courage will carry Ronaldo over the finish line.

With messages for children on encouragement and inspiration, Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy is a heart-warming chapter book abundant with laughter and surprises. If you enjoy flying tales, bath bombs and carrot cake, then you’ll love Ronaldo’s action-packed first flying adventure.

Pull down your flying goggles and buy Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy today!

* This is a stand-alone series. Books do not need to be read in order.

Book Excerpt

Chapter One – “The Stare-Off”

Woosh! The Weekly Flyer slid under the door. Ronaldo pounced out of bed, grabbed his favourite comic and jumped back under the covers.

The Weekly Flyer was full of up-to-date news on the top flying reindeer. Ronaldo loved it! He rifled through the pages searching for the article on his hero, Vixen Pederson. A glossy photo of Santa’s lead reindeer stared back at him: his deep-chestnut coat gleamed in the North Pole sunshine; his famous black hair styled in a quiff that fell over one eye. That’s going to be me when I grow up, Ronaldo thought to himself. I will lead Santa’s team!

“Ronaldo!” Dad yelled from downstairs.

Ronaldo shoved his hooves into his slippers and checked the time.

I can’t be late today!

With his nose held high, Ronaldo followed the delectable scent coming from the kitchen. Carrot pancakes! Yes! The one thing Dad made successfully.

Cooking was Dad’s passion in life. And disgusting food combinations were his speciality. Ronaldo couldn’t decide which was the worst: custard-covered lemmings, or chocolate-coated Brussels sprouts?

Crikey! Ronaldo hesitated outside the kitchen. An explosion of flour and carrot peel sprayed the walls. Butter, sugar and spilled milk littered the floor. “Yuck,” he griped as he tiptoed through sludge towards the breakfast table.

“Morning, sweetheart!” Mum smiled as she looked up from the crossword in The Reindeer Express. “Ignore the mess,” she said through tight lips.

“Thanks for my comic. It’s got an awesome interview with Vixen,” Ronaldo said.

“I picked it up on the way home from work. You’re lucky, it was the last copy. With Christmas coming up, there were extra parcels to deliver. I finished an hour late.”

“Breakfast is ready!” Dad skidded across the slippery floor as if wearing ice skates, crashed into the kitchen table with a thump, and dumped a mountain of pancakes in the centre.

Ronaldo stifled a giggle. His dad had flour on his nose, eggshells nestled in his antlers, and pretty much everything down the front of his apron.

“Hmm, those pancakes smell good enough to eat,” Mum said. She put down her newspaper, leaned across and removed the eggshells from her husband’s antlers.

Ronaldo wasted no time! He smothered his pancake with warm apple syrup, caramel sauce and chocolate chips. He scoffed one pancake, then two, then three… and then he lost count! Yummy! He burped and rubbed his tummy. Room for a few more? Yes!

One pancake sat in the middle of the table. Ronaldo looked at Dad. He was eyeing it like a fawn staring into a toy-shop window. Ronaldo nestled closer to the table and licked his lips. It’s mine!

Father and son stared at the pancake, then they stared at each other. They edged over the kitchen table, their noses almost touching. Words were unnecessary. The look said it all.

Now, Ronaldo’s parents were always saying, “Eat up, Ronaldo,” so in his opinion the pancake was his. But Dad wasn’t giving up! He grunted in frustration. Mum gave him a hard stare that said: don’t be rude, Ronaldo!

Ding! Dong! the clock in the hallway chimed.

Dad’s caramel-coloured eyes continued to bore into Ronaldo’s. He knew what he was thinking: that he was older and bigger… and that the pancake belonged to him! Ronaldo stared back. I’m not giving up either.

As the two reindeer engaged in a silent wrestle over who should have the pancake, Mum swooped in and took it. “You don’t mind if I have the last one, do you?” she said, cutting into it with her fork. “I had a hectic night at work.”

Ronaldo narrowed his eyes. That was sneaky!

Dad’s bottom lip quivered.

How could she do that to her only son? Ronaldo huffed. Then he remembered the comic she posted under his bedroom door. Mum was a worthy winner.

The clock on the wall read 8.15 a.m.

Ronaldo jumped up. I’m ten minutes behind schedule! He had been so busy staring at Dad, he had lost track of time!

“Finish your carrot juice,” Mum said. “And make sure you wash that apple syrup from the corners of your mouth, you don’t want your fur to be sticky.”

“It’ll get infested with bugs,” Dad added.

The image of bloodthirsty insects eating away at his fur flashed into Ronaldo’s mind. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought and finished his juice in one giant gulp.

“Get a move on,” Mum said. “You don’t want to be late for school.”

“I don’t go to school, Mum!” Ronaldo said with annoyance. He puffed out his chest. “I go to The Reindeer Flying Academy.” The most prestigious Flying School in the world!

About the Author

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