A fantastical and interesting take on the Santa Claus myth. ( )

Received from Early Readers program.
This is a Santa Claus origin story from the author of the OZ books L. Frank Baum. It is a very quaint little book and has some very sweet little fantasy elements. Would be a good little series of bedtime stories for young children leading up to Christmas. It is a little dated but not too much, and I enjoyed reading it. ( )

After reading all of the Oz books, it's nice to read Baum's other works as well. Not only for the fact they are imaginative for his time, but also you can clearly see he created a universe with most of his books. Yes, this book does connect ith his Oz books, because in a later Oz book he uses this Santa Claus.

The other thing I like about this book is this is Baum's version for the origin of Santa Claus. This is mostly pagan views of Santa and Christmas which is a little interesting knowing that he was Protestant, yet not supersizing since he was simply writing a book for children to enjoy. When I say pagan too it just has that feel, religion is mostly absent in this story.

This is, like most of Baum's works, a quick and easy read. It's perfect for right around Christmas too. Not all that, the message is clear, if Santa Clause had it his way all the children in the world would be happy. ( )

How did Santa come to be? How does he live forever? This wonderful book answers all these questions and more. Santa was a foundling raised by a nymph named Necile who loved him like her own. Throughout his life, Claus is befriended by many immortals who make his life better. When he decides to live among other mortals, Claus finds his true calling.

Growing up, I watched the cartoon by Rankin/Bass based on this short story and it quickly became one of my favorites. I found myself smiling throughout this story and decided that I will be purchasing a copy for my shelves. If you are looking for a quick endearing read about Santa and his origins...this is the book I highly recommend. ( )

L. Frank Baum imagines the back story of Santa Claus beginning with his discovery as a babe in a forest mentioned in [The Wizard of Oz]. He takes us through his mentorship by the Master Woodworker and to the beginnings of his own toy making for children. He eventually spends Christmas eve with his reindeer team delivering toys to stockings and Christmas trees. Then there is more! House designs change, and those chimneys aren't wide enough. It's a fun romp when you are in the mood for a little bit of whimsy! I received a copy through Library Thing Early Reviewers program with the expectation of an honest review. ( )