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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Have to read for my Intro to Teaching Reading class.
I was amazed at how wonderful this book was. I'm not a fan of L. Frank Baum's work, but this book is a truly splendid version of every Santa Claus story we hear.
I was amazed at how wonderful this book was. I'm not a fan of L. Frank Baum's work, but this book is a truly splendid version of every Santa Claus story we hear.
This caught my eye on Audible recently because it was a story that my dad frequently read to me in the weeks leading up to Christmas during my childhood. Nostalgia got the best of me and I revisited this story once more. It's a magical origin story of Santa. What was most fun though was remembering how creative and enthusiastic my Dad would be when telling this story to me.
This is one of the most wonderful childrens story I've ever read! If you have a kid who is questioning the whole how-can-Santa-manage-it? then read this to them ;) I think it is a christmas story just as good as Dickens'
Certainly not your classic "Santa at the North Pole" story. Even the names of the reindeer are different! But I wouldn't expect any less from the Royal Historian of Oz. It's a wonderfully imaginative tale full of magic and heart. A great Christmas tale.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank L. Baum (most widely known for his Oz books) gives us the story of Santa Claus from his earliest days with the fairies and nymphs of the forest through his transformation into the yearly Christmas Eve visitor who brings toys for the children. It tells how the human baby was discovered by Ak, the Master Woodsman, and given his protection and then he was adopted by Necile, the nymph. The boy was named Claus ("little one") and grew up enjoying the protection of the immortals (Nymphs, Ryls, Knooks, and Fairies--those who care for the forests, waters, plants and animals). Once he is old enough to be told that there are others like him, he realizes that he would like to spend his life making other children as happy as he has been with his guardians. He learns to make toys and gives them to the children who have nothing, but soon decides that all children (even those that are rich and seem to be well-cared for) should benefit from his goodness. We also learn how he came to use chimneys and reindeer and finally, why he now makes one trip a year on Christmas Eve.
What struck me about this very interesting story of Santa Claus is how much the movie Santa Claus Is Coming to Town must have built on Baum's work (without, as far as I can tell crediting him). The parallels are quite striking: Forest animals protect him; Elves rather than a nymph take in the orphaned child; the scenes showing him learning to make toys; there is the Burgermeister who doesn't want the children to receive toys (in the book it's just a few nobles who won't allow Claus to give toys to their children); the Burgermeister takes the toys and burns them=the Awgwas in the book who steal the toys and hide them in the mountains; in the book the reindeer grow strong on special food so they can run swiftly and leap to the rooftops and in the movie they eat magic corn that allows them to fly; and so on. I'm sure the movie rearranged things as they did to play down the very pagan connections in Baum's work.
This is a quite lovely history of Santa Claus. And the illustrations are wonderful. If I had read it as child, I'm sure I would have rated it higher. As it is--three stars.
What struck me about this very interesting story of Santa Claus is how much the movie Santa Claus Is Coming to Town must have built on Baum's work (without, as far as I can tell crediting him). The parallels are quite striking: Forest animals protect him; Elves rather than a nymph take in the orphaned child; the scenes showing him learning to make toys; there is the Burgermeister who doesn't want the children to receive toys (in the book it's just a few nobles who won't allow Claus to give toys to their children); the Burgermeister takes the toys and burns them=the Awgwas in the book who steal the toys and hide them in the mountains; in the book the reindeer grow strong on special food so they can run swiftly and leap to the rooftops and in the movie they eat magic corn that allows them to fly; and so on. I'm sure the movie rearranged things as they did to play down the very pagan connections in Baum's work.
This is a quite lovely history of Santa Claus. And the illustrations are wonderful. If I had read it as child, I'm sure I would have rated it higher. As it is--three stars.
Absolutely loved this! Very clever explaining how Santa's traditions came about.
I try to read this book every Christmas. I love the history Baum creates for the jolly figure we all know from childhood.
This book is a great Christmas novel. It tells the origins of Santa Claus and how he started delivering presents every Christmas Eve. I think it would be qualified as middle grade. It reads like a classic fairy tale. It's one I'll definitely enjoy revisiting.
Finally i know about the history of Santa Claus. He is really a santa :) I love Necile, she is very adorable.