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princsstrish's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely book! I enjoyed reading all about where Santa Claus came from and how he's managed to give presents to all the children of the world on Christmas.
sdhb's review against another edition
5.0
Several Christmases ago, a friend of mine from church recommended this book to me. It has 24 chapters, and is a wonderful story to read to your kids throughout the month of December, leading up to Christmas Eve (one chapter a night, starting December 1st).What I like most about the book, is that it weaves Santa's story throughout history. Several historical figures from Charlemagne to Attila the Hun to Ben Franklin cross Santa's path as the years pass. It even explains how Santa never grows old.I think this is a great book, and a great way to help offer explanations to kids whose belief in Santa may be wavering a bit.
There is just a touch of religion in the story (after all, Santa was once a priest, then a bishop, then finally achieved sainthood as St. Nicholas), which I liked, but for the most part, the history that Santa moves through is told at a very appropriate level for kids.
I've been reading it all month to my kids, ages almost 4 and 7 1/2. My older son really enjoys it, but its a bit over my younger one's head (he still sits through it and gets some of it). More so, I am seriously enjoying the story as well. I would recommend this to parents and non-parents alike to read next December with your own families!
There is just a touch of religion in the story (after all, Santa was once a priest, then a bishop, then finally achieved sainthood as St. Nicholas), which I liked, but for the most part, the history that Santa moves through is told at a very appropriate level for kids.
I've been reading it all month to my kids, ages almost 4 and 7 1/2. My older son really enjoys it, but its a bit over my younger one's head (he still sits through it and gets some of it). More so, I am seriously enjoying the story as well. I would recommend this to parents and non-parents alike to read next December with your own families!
cherrypopgirlie's review against another edition
5.0
I love reading this book around Christmas! It combines historical facts of the actual Saint Nicholas with a believable tale of how Santa came to be. A Christmas classic for me!
tiffanynz's review against another edition
2.0
A brilliant concept but bizarrely delivered. The chapters about the early life of the man who became Saint Nicholas were really interesting. However when Santa, as he becomes known several centuries later, stops aging and starts enlisting famous historical figures to join him on his quest, things take a turn for the weird. Leonardo Da Vinci inventing a flying sleigh? Attila the Hun and King Arthur as toy makers? Hmmmmm. Imaginative but too bizarre for even this Christmas-phile.
yvetteadams's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the history in this story and there was lots of Christmas trivia. Santa's story itself though was a bit too young for me.
jenivanton's review against another edition
It was terrible. Couldn't even finish it.
nerdese's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute read to sit down with while playing some Christmas tunes — very festive! There's some fun real history here, and Santa accumulating historical figures was an interesting concept, though I did feel a little played out as the story went on and more and more characters came into the mix. I did feel like the book skimmed over some darker periods of history without much context or explanation, but given the type of book this is, I can understand why. (Santa does give a bit of a throwaway references to the scourge of slavery at one point, but that's about it). I can see this being a nice book to share with the family or read throughout December to your kids, to discuss different holiday legends around the world and how those legends and stories about Santa have evolved over time.
klm2620's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
biajo83's review against another edition
2.0
I had some high hopes for this book especially the start when it felt like it was going to be appropriately diverse. Instead what I got was a body conscience old man who constantly name drops every chance he gets. Do yourself a favor and just watch The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.