Reindeer of the Waves by Ruth Harshaw and Margaret Iannelli, 1934 first edition.

Written by Ruth Harshaw. Edited by Carleton Washburne. Illustrated by Margaret Iannelli. First edition, 1934. Rand McNally & Company.

Reindeer of the Waves is particularly notable for the artwork of Chicago artist Margaret Iannelli.

Ships on the Sea

"Thorkel was a boy who lived a long, long time ago. He lived in Norway, a land of the Far North. He lived near the sea. The sea had found its way through the rocky shore. It reached like a long art far into the land. This long arm of the sea was called fjord. Thorkel lived beside this fjord, not far from the sea. He rowed his boat in its waters. He was only twelve years old, but he knew much of the sea."

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"It was Thorkel's mother who embroidered a reindeer on the sail and named the boat "Reindeer of the Waves." "I want your ship to be strong and swift. I want it to be a king of ships," she said.

"For Thorkel was only twelve, and young, even for a Viking boy, to be commanding a trading voyage. He had need of a strong ship and brave, loyal followers. ...

"Away over the rough seas leaped the 'Reindeer,' and headed for London Fair, laden with barrels of tar and pitch and dried fish and with chests of furs, tapestries, and ornaments made of gold and silver and polished amber. Thorkel's heart beat fast as he through of the dangers and opportunities ahead, of the chance to prove himself a man, and of his secret vow to find and bring home his missing father."

Ruth Harshaw also wrote My Viking Book and The Council of the Gods. But she was more well-known as creator of the Carnival of Books, a WMAQ radio program - "a happy carousel of stories, literary enchantment, and inspiration" - that received the Peabody Award for youth and children's programs in 1962. "Through this engaging program, Mrs. Ruth Harshaw, author and educator, has for years been teaching children to find, enjoy, and appreciate good books.".

Margaret Iannelli (1893–1967) was an accomplished artist and illustrator in her own right, but together with her husband Alfonso Iannelli they contributed significantly to the Chicago area's design landscape, working with renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Margaret's artistic merit was evident in her textbook illustrations for educational materials published by Rand McNally & Company, publisher of Reindeer of the Waves. Her work, alongside Alfonso's, left a lasting impression on modern design and education.

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Condition: Very Good/Fair. Dust jacket: Soiling with pale spill stains on the back; light to moderated wear along upper and lower edges; on the front, small open tear, small closed tear, and small crease at upper edge, two small open tears and a long crease at lower edge; on the back, small open tear, small closed tear, and crease at upper edge, three very small tears and long crease at lower edge; darkening of the spine, with wear along the edges, closed tears along front edge, and open tears at head and tail; rubbing along fore edges; bumped at the corners. Blue cloth covers with yellow title and decoration: Light wear at head and tail of the spine, with small dark stain at the tail. Gift inscription on front fly leaf else pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.