Scan barcode
brandifox's review against another edition
The start is a bizarre delight but it does grow tedious as Baum’s diligence to explain all the lore drags on.
ogreart's review against another edition
4.0
An utterly charming story. L. Frank Baum was one hell of a writer.
racheldrake's review against another edition
4.0
Was not totally what I was expecting but was a fun read. Frank L Baum has 100% got his very own, very recognizable writing style and it was so fun to hear his take on Santa Claus. Will likely make this a yearly tradition to read!
jewels_pg's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Excellent light read, nostalgic, a fairy tale.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books I cannot separate from childhood Christmases. I think my mom and Aunt Cathy must also feel that way, because I feel like we read it aloud every single Christmas, whereas more exciting books, like the Box of Delights, only came out every second or third year for Christmas.
I would never recommend it to a modern child, only people like me who grew up on a diet of children's books from 3 or 4 generations of family before should probably read it. There isn't anything absolutely awful, but it has both the manner of really old white people books, and a faint tinge of the kind of racism that is so deeply encoded that we (white people) hardly ever thought about it till now. I can't even say for sure that some of the crankier immortals are darker skinned than the pleasanter ones, but I'm pretty sure it's true, and there are things about the Agwas (the absolutely evil creatures) that made me uncomfortable.
Baum, on the whole, managed to largely avoid serious racism, and since his Oz characters are so often paper or flame or soup, colour doesn't come into it much. But he was a man of his time, and that means he undoubtedly did view people who weren't white as somehow lesser, and every now and then there just is a cringy stereotype, of the darker-skinned people (or some other racial characteristic) are bad, or even just crankier, type, as above.
So I don't tend to recommend him much in my children's librarian-ing.
I will always love Oz and all the rest because they are almost the foundation material of the happy part of my childhood, the part that was all love and warmth, where everyone was alive, and no one was crazy and scary. But no one who lives in the town I work in needs to rely on them for that reason. They too may need books to represent their happy bits of childhood later, but I'd like to try to make sure that all their books aren't written by white people who were born in the 19th century. We have so many lovely, diverse books by lovely diverse authors, so I'd like to be sure that the newer childhood memories are of those kinds of books.
I would never recommend it to a modern child, only people like me who grew up on a diet of children's books from 3 or 4 generations of family before should probably read it. There isn't anything absolutely awful, but it has both the manner of really old white people books, and a faint tinge of the kind of racism that is so deeply encoded that we (white people) hardly ever thought about it till now. I can't even say for sure that some of the crankier immortals are darker skinned than the pleasanter ones, but I'm pretty sure it's true, and there are things about the Agwas (the absolutely evil creatures) that made me uncomfortable.
Baum, on the whole, managed to largely avoid serious racism, and since his Oz characters are so often paper or flame or soup, colour doesn't come into it much. But he was a man of his time, and that means he undoubtedly did view people who weren't white as somehow lesser, and every now and then there just is a cringy stereotype, of the darker-skinned people (or some other racial characteristic) are bad, or even just crankier, type, as above.
So I don't tend to recommend him much in my children's librarian-ing.
I will always love Oz and all the rest because they are almost the foundation material of the happy part of my childhood, the part that was all love and warmth, where everyone was alive, and no one was crazy and scary. But no one who lives in the town I work in needs to rely on them for that reason. They too may need books to represent their happy bits of childhood later, but I'd like to try to make sure that all their books aren't written by white people who were born in the 19th century. We have so many lovely, diverse books by lovely diverse authors, so I'd like to be sure that the newer childhood memories are of those kinds of books.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Have you ever thought who Santa Claus was before he was the jolly grandfather figure? Who raised him and how did all the traditions that go along with him begin? This book answers all those questions and more.
I had never even heard of this book's existence so when I got the email offering it to read and review, I knew I had to read and review it and share it here. Divided into three parts, this great little book tells the reader of the story of this "man" from when a fairy adopts him and raises him in an enchanted forest and when he leaves them to share joy. I loved how these magical creatures help him to find his life's work and then keep his life's work going.
If you already knew about this book, let me know what memories you have of reading it. I was excited to share it with my sister so she could share it with her girls!
I had never even heard of this book's existence so when I got the email offering it to read and review, I knew I had to read and review it and share it here. Divided into three parts, this great little book tells the reader of the story of this "man" from when a fairy adopts him and raises him in an enchanted forest and when he leaves them to share joy. I loved how these magical creatures help him to find his life's work and then keep his life's work going.
If you already knew about this book, let me know what memories you have of reading it. I was excited to share it with my sister so she could share it with her girls!
abe25's review against another edition
5.0
great l. frank baum book for Christmas! fyi this author also wrote all of the early wizard of oz books!
linesuponapage's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful
Possible the sweetest and loving book i have read about Santa Claus, besides the one where he goes on vacation each off-season. I loved L. Frank Baum’s descriptions of various aspects of Santa’s life. I. The words of Susie, “he’s such a kind old man.”
Possible the sweetest and loving book i have read about Santa Claus, besides the one where he goes on vacation each off-season. I loved L. Frank Baum’s descriptions of various aspects of Santa’s life. I. The words of Susie, “he’s such a kind old man.”
seemadyal50's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0