290 reviews for:

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

L. Frank Baum

3.84 AVERAGE

ricksilva's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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 Oz creator L. Frank Baum provides a surprisingly pagan origin story for Santa Claus as the adopted child of a wood nymph who strikes out his own when he reaches adulthood, takes up toymaking, and becomes involved in a huge battle between good and evil immortal beings, eventually recieving the Mantle of Immortality himself. Baum takes great delight in building up his mythological universe and the complex interactions between the various types of magical beings. The story works well as mythology, although Claus himself solves most of his problems without much difficulty thanks to his alliances with the immortals.
 
 This is an interesting alternative take on the myths that most kids these days have learned through TV Christmas specials. 

jackphoenix's review against another edition

4.0

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It's probably not up to par with The Wizard of Oz as far as fanciful storytelling, but what is here is truly an underrated Christmas tale for kids, full of adventure and an unorthodox portrayal of the jolly one to boot.

aceofknaves87's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

aardwyrm's review against another edition

3.0

hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I brought myself up on Oz books and even with that background, the Edwardian glurge is strong in this one. If you have a high tolerance for the prose and silliness of the time and the weirdness that's all Baum's own, it's a nice way to wile away a bit of the Christmas season. 

lynn_pugh's review against another edition

2.5

challenging lighthearted slow-paced

decembermagpie's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

tylerteacher's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

read_with_riley's review against another edition

5.0

funny hopeful lighthearted

chubby_little_butter_books's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kickitupanotch7's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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The first few chapters were not quite my cup of tea, but I stuck it out and ended up enjoying the mystical backstory of Santa Claus.