The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa [Paperback]

Denise Graham Zahn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This is the Christmas story that all believers have been waiting for, because it answers the question all believing children inevitably ask: 'How does Santa deliver presents all over the world in one night?' Now, for the first time, there's an answer children can believe. Just as the believing world expanded, so did the Santa Claus family.Each year, just before Christmas, new Santas are initiated to run the sleighs and every generation a new North Pole Santa receives his birthright to be the next North Pole Santa. But, now there's a problem. For the first time in the Santa Claus family, the next in line for the birthright is an adopted Athabascan girl, and the Twentieth North Pole Santa's brothers have conspired to prevent her from running a sleigh or becoming the Twenty-First North Pole Santa. This is a story of diversity, gender bias and the relationship of adopted children with their families. It is the evolution of a legend to be shared with believers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Denise Graham Zahn, of Chicago, earned a master's degree in Media Communications from Governors State University, completing a thesis titled, American Indians - Taking Technology Road to the Twenty-First Century. She has written freelance features for regional newspapers; wrote and produced a one-act play at Prairie State College; has a poem published in The American Poetry Anthology; was editor of the Governors State University student newspaper, and worked as Coordinator of Public Information for Governors State University, writing stories and press releases for print publications. She is married and has two children and two granddaughters, along with two dogs (rescued greyhound and Italian greyhound), a cat and two parakeets.The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa is her first published book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (September 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403348014
• ISBN-13: 978-1403348012
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,146,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This Book Needed an Editor!, December 17, 2004

By 

Brian P. Hudson "Writer@Large" (Dearborn, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa (Paperback)

The story of "Twenty-First North Pole Santa" is excruciatingly politically correct (if I had to read about the main character's "proud Athabascan heritage" one more time I was going to scream), but that's not why I've given it a low rating. I'm giving it a low rating because the book seriously needed an editor who was competent of grammar and style. It obviously didn't have one. Zahn is a repetitive and choppy author; and she apparently doesn't know what a question mark is or how it is used to indicate an interrogative sentence. This is not of publishable quality.

I bought this book for my young son, but I don't know that I'll let him keep it. The story is no great shakes, and the writing itself is subpar. I don't want him to think that this is good authorship!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be a classic!!!!!, June 14, 2005

By 

classe5th (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa (Hardcover)

I have taught 4th and 5th graders for years. During the holiday season, my students and I read this book. It's a fantastic teaching tool. I love to use it as a thematic unit. My students enjoy learning about the Athabascans (Native Alaskans) as well as other cultures. Since society is so diverse, children can relate to this story.

I realize the publisher had some typo's, but that's what makes it even more of a learning experience for kids.......to find them and critique them. Denise Graham Zahn has given kids of all ages a greater understanding of what "sticking together through thick and thin" means. This is wonderful for character education, too. Teachers from all over the world should share this with their students, and then, they can share it with their families to keep the tradition alive. My students have also written to the author, and she took the time to write back to each one of them. What an experience for us!

5.0 out of 5 stars New and imroved story., November 5, 2011

By 

Denise Graham Zahn (Tarpon Springs, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa (Paperback)

Hi! I'm the author. I guess there were quite a few errors in my first edition. I hope you won't discount a wonderful story about a multicultural Santa Claus family because of that. It's also about an adopted girl in the Santa family. I've had many women tell me (unsolicited) that it brought tears to their eyes, and they loved it. They wanted the book for the daughters or granddaughters. Each had read a borrowed copy. It's more of a "chick" story, I'll admit. I just think that it's time to update the Coca-cola Santa to be inclusive, even if that does sound politically correct.
I will tell you that as a new author it broke my heart to have my story trashed so horribly, but Mr. Hudson did force me to take another look at the mechanics that, indeed, needed some repairs.
Maybe we'll see Holly, the main character, on the big screen someday. Enjoy!