Customer Reviews

The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving

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You might think it would be easy to translate the real story of Saint Nicholas of Myra into picture book form so that it can be shared with children. But the task is more complex than it first appears. If you research the origins of our Santa Claus, you either come up with voluminous information about travels, miracles, and patronage; or you land on a single statement that insists that no confirmed historical facts exist about him. It's tough to boil down the facts, such as they are, and figure out an engaging way to present them to young people.

Dandi Daley Mackall takes a stab at the assignment with THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS, which puts a contemporary twist on the historical account. The book begins with a boy named Nick who goes last-minute Christmas shopping with his father. Nick is more focused on what he'd like to get for himself, not on presents for his little brothers. But he overhears a department-store Santa retelling the story of Saint Nicholas. He learns a bit about a young man who saw suffering and had enough wealth of his own to help out his friends and deposit anonymous gifts at their homes. When he later saw how much his gifts were appreciated, Saint Nicholas decided to celebrate Christmas in that fashion from that point on. Hearing this tale had its effect on real-time Nick, and in no time he was busy figuring out what to get for his family members.

The plot is nicely done, even if we don't believe that a young person can be turned around so quickly these days. Guy Porfirio's illustrations are rich in color and expression (though the text mentions that Nick is ogling CDs, not the DVDs that he is seen holding in one scene). Children might be stunned at first to see Saint Nicholas depicted as a handsome young man, not much older than themselves. But of course that's the point! And I think it is well made here. Good job!

Mackall and Porfirio are not the first ones to tackle this subject, and they surely won't be the last. Other good picture book treatments include: Marianna Mayer's "The Real Santa Claus," which provides a detailed history of Nicholas' life; Demi's "The Legend of Saint Nicholas," which streamlines a similar history and features iconic illustrations; and "The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale" by Aaron Shepard and Wendy Edelson, which brings to life a simple and colorful American folktale of gratitude, inspired by the saint. Each one is worthy of sharing with a child during the holiday season.

In this delightful Christmas tale we meet Nick, a young boy who must do last minute Christmas shopping for his brothers' presents. Nick isn't thrilled about this. He'd much rather get gifts than give them, but that changes when Nick overhears a mall Santa retelling the legend of St. Nicholas.

We are taken into the world of a young St. Nicholas, in this tale, and shown how his tradition of gift-giving began. The children will see how Nicholas felt compassion for the less fortunate, and wanted to bring them some happiness. The idea of showing St.Nicholas as a child brings the story down to a child's level, and makes it easier for them to relate to and understand. Very good.

This is a truly heart-warming story for the child in your life that you desire to understand the true meaning of gift-giving
The illustrations are absolutely brilliant, colorful, and life like. The expressions on the faces definitely give light to the words being read. Excellent. All in all a wonderful book that I am pleased to recommend.

In The Legend of St. Nicholas, a beautifully-illustrated picture book for kids in the four-to-eight range, young Nick comes to realize that Christmas is about more than amassing material possessions. On a last-minute shopping excursion with his father, Nick is drawn in by a store Santa's recounting of the Saint Nicholas legend. The other Nick's decision to dedicate his life to giving, rather than receiving, serves as a strong inspiration for our modern-day Nick, showing him the Christian meaning behind a religious holiday that many now experience only in a commercial, secular sense. It also uses Saint Nick's story-within-the-story to draw a clever connection between Santa Clause and Christ's birthday. My five-year-old loved this book, insisting that I give it five stars. I agree that this would make a great addition to your family's holiday book collection.

-Kevin Joseph (as reviewed for TCM Reviews)

If you're trying to instill the spirit of giving in your child, and you'd like to teach them a little big about Christmas lore, "The Legend of St. Nicholas" by Dandi Daley Mackall is a great choice.

Prolific Christian children's book author Mackall offers up this tale not in her famous rhyme, but in straight prose. She begins by introducing us to an older boy named Nick, who is grumpily Christmas shopping with his father. Although he's supposed to be buying his brothers gifts, Nick finds himself mostly thinking about keeping enough of his gift money to buy himself a CD. Then Nick overhears the store Santa telling a story to some younger children.

The story is about a boy who lived long ago and was named Nicholas. He grew up with wealthy parents, but managed to still notice a lot of needy people in the world. When his parents died, Nicholas was unsure what to do with his life. He asked his friends what they'd do if they had a great deal of money. One boy told him he'd pay all the family bills, since his father was out of work. Another boy said he'd buy his mother a much needed coat. And a girl said she'd pay for her sisters' dowries, so they could marry.

That Christmas night, Nicholas heard the church bells and thought about the wise kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus. There's no better time to give gifts than on the celebration of Jesus' birth, he decided. He rushed out and threw coins through his friend's window, so his family's bills could be paid; he threw a beautiful coat through the window of another friend's house, so his mother could be properly clothed. He also attempted to throw dowry money through the window of his third friend's house, but the windows were locked. He looked heavenward, praying for God's guidance...and saw his friend's chimney...

Modern day Nick is stirred by this tale of the real Santa Claus, and with renewed Christmas joy, not only finds just the right gifts for his brothers, but uses up his remaining money buying gifts for poor children."Nick felt sure he'd never look at Christmas the same way. He wanted to remember the gifts of Saint Nicholas, the gifts of the wise kings, and most of all, God's gift of baby Jesus."

What I Like: I like the interweaving of a modern tale of a child who learns the real meaning of Christmas and the joy of giving alongside one of the historical legends of St. Nicholas, the inspiration for the make-believe Santa Claus. Guy Porfirio's illustrations are also beautiful: realistic and colorful without being gaudy.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Kristina Seleshanko, Managing Editor, Christian Children's Book Review

This story of Saint Nicholas is simple and perfect for reading to children on Christmas eve. The language is simple and easy for them to understand. The story is simple as it tells the story of Nicholas, a boy of the fourth century who unselfishly gives his belongings to his friends on Christmas day, vowing to do so ever after in honor of the Christ. The pictures are well done and the story tells us of another Nicholas who learns the true meaning of Christmas from Santa Claus. Simply put,if you are looking for a way to explain Santa Claus and Christmas, I feel this simple book will help.

It's easy to assume that St. Nicholas is just a fairy tale, but there is a historical basis for the legend. Dandi Daley Mackall, a wonderful children's author, tells the story simply and effectively. A boy shopping for presents for his brothers overhears the tale being told by a shopping mall Santa. He is so inspired by the story of the real St. Nicholas that he follows his example by giving gifts in recognition of the greatest gift: the gift of God's son.

As is usual with the Legend series by Zonderkidz, the book is beautifully illustrated. Inspire someone by giving this book as a gift.

Cindy Thomson
Author of Brigid of Ireland

We focused on this book last Christmas and can't wait to read it as a family this Christmas. It's now part of our tradition. This is an absolutely wonderful retelling of the best parts of the life of Saint Nicholas.

This book helps teach values and we appreciate the wonderful opportunities books like this afford us as parents to guide our kids.

I had bought this DVD for 2 of my grandsons between 3 and 4/12 years of age and they loved it!