The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
L. Frank Baum (Juvenile Fiction)
Did you ever wonder why Santa delivers presents on Christmas Eve or why he climbs down a chimney? Why reindeer were chosen to pull his sleigh or how the first Christmas tree came about? All of these questions and more are answered about the jolly old man who delivers joy and happiness to every child around the globe on one very special night each year. From his introduction as a helpless infant who was discovered by the Wood-Nymph Necile in the Forest of Burzee to the night he escaped the Spirit of Death by being given the Mantle of Immortality, the life of Santa Claus is finally shared and what you thought you knew about the man in red may never be the same again.
Two years after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, L. Frank Baum delighted audiences again with another tale of mythical creatures and magical worlds. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is not just a history of one of the world’s most notable and recognized figures, but it is a heartwarming story of selflessness, devotion, family, and love. More importantly, Baum gives us a book extolling and celebrating the virtues of inclusion. As an abandoned baby, Claus was lovingly adopted and wholly accepted within the secret and protected world of immortals. As an adult, he once questioned whether or not wealthy children were also deserving of gifts since they already possessed so much. The Queen of the Fairies replied, “Whether it be rich or poor, a child’s longings for pretty playthings are natural. I think, friend Claus, it is your duty to make all little ones glad, whether they chance to live in palaces or in cottages.”
Children and adults alike can benefit from the messages Baum delivers in this classic children’s story. The idea of extending grace, mercy, and joy to everyone we encounter is something we should aspire to every day of the year and not just one.
“’In all this world, there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child,’ says good old Santa Claus; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.”
Merry Christmas from The Dusty Jacket.
Rating: 5/5
The Dusty Jacket 