The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus [Hardcover]

Janeen R. Adil (Adapter), L. Frank Baum (Author), Charles Santore (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This enchanting tale, originally written more than 100 years ago by L. Frank Baum, marries all the magic and fantasy of The Wizard of Oz to the classic Christmas tale.

Nicholas is a mortal child found in the forest and raised by a band of woodland fairies and elves, where he learns to whittle small trinkets and toys from wood. As he grows older, he makes it his mission in life to make children happy by carving and delivering toys. Such traditions like hanging stockings on the chimney, Claus’s flying reindeer, and St. Nick’s immortality are explained through Baum’s colorful narrative thread.

Award winning painter Charles Santore, who has interpreted such classics as Peter Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, and The Wizard of Oz, beautifully re-imagines this Christmas fairytale, which is sure to become a Christmas classic on children’s bookshelves.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–In this significantly shortened version of Baum's 1902 tale, readers learn that Santa Claus, abandoned as a baby, was adopted and raised by a wood-nymph in the magical forest of Burzee. After he grows up and learns about the human world he came from, he decides to devote his life to helping children, and the rest is history. Baum's original language, florid and wordy, has been pared down into a more readable and modern narrative. The large format, brimming with plenty of lush full- and double-page paintings depicting fairies, sprites, Knooks, and a very comely young Claus, will appeal to many children. The Land of Faerie plotline is a tad odd, but all the elements of Santa Claus's story (the reindeer, the chimney-clambering) are reassuringly present.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library END

Review

School Library Journal, October 2009
“The large format, brimming with plenty of lush full- and double-page paintings depicting fairies, sprites, Knooks, and a very comely young Claus, will appeal to many children.”

Publishers Weekly, 10/26/09
“…lavishly detailed…Santa’s evolution from humble woodsman to the man in the red suit will delight readers and answer a few questions to boot.”

The Columbus Dispatch, 11/15/09
“In 1902, the creator of The Wizard of Oz series published his imaginings of the origin of Santa Claus. St. Nick was raised by woodland fairies, grew to love children and wanted to be their champion, and eventually became immortal. Santore's page-filling paintings are equally magical.”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Running Press Kids (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762427965
• ISBN-13: 978-0762427963
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A review of the Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, September 25, 2009

By 

Philip Ford "Philip Ford" (Lubbock, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (Hardcover)

First and foremost I knew by the product description this book is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic tale of everyone's favorite Christmas Giver and the book is without question breathtakingly beautiful. It is full of Santore's marvelous paintings which look like something Arthur Rackham would illustrate. The fairies are wonderful as are the nymphs, knooks, and the ryls who actually look like the colors they represent and they are cute funny looking creatures. But then Santore creates a world of strange and marvelous creatures who are fantastic yet very human. Looking at the great Ak who is the lord of the forest you see person who appears so very human and Necile, Santa's adoptive mother, looks very human and beautiful. The overall artwork portrayed shows mostly the fantastic world of the fairies and to a lesser extent the people of the human world. However Bessie Blithesome is a very human sweet girl who exudes joy at receiving a doll from Santa.
One of the few flaws of this book is that it is an adaptation and whole episodes are omitted from the story, namely the awgwas were omitted and what a pity they were for it would have been terrific and terrifying to have seen Santore's portrayal of the creatures. Afterall Santore's horrifying wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz is one of the best portrayals of the character ever painted for current children's books today and to have see his villains for this book would have been wonderful. Also omitted from the book are the scenes with Weekum, Mayrie and her brother, and the last chapter of the book in which Santa face adversity from an encroaching civilization and industry.
It must be said the adaptor did leave in some very good sections of the book which make it more appealing to younger children and it is obvious this book is meant for the younger set The story explains why Santa Claus makes toys and why he has reindeer. Also why hang up stockings for Santa Claus? The story does explain many things and makes them accessible for modern readers. For example the episode with Mayrie features a child speaking in childlike tones which would not be acceptable to modern readers. In the scene, in which Santa creates the first Christmas tree, a teepee is featured in the background but the language is edited for modern sensibilities as in the original text the parents of the children are called "neglectful". In this version the words are edited so as not to offend modern ears. I don't necessarily approve of changing the classics but the language in the original could be seen as offensive.
However over all as a beautifully illustrated classic it is beautiful and worth having on the shelf for collectors and for anyone who loves Christmas and Santa Claus.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Illustrations, October 27, 2009

By 

Portianay "portianay" (KY, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (Hardcover)

Parents need to understand, before they buy or borrow this book, that L. Frank Baum's works are not typical of today's fantasy reading, and this book is no exception. (I speak of those who are surprised that the WIZARD OF OZ books are not very much like the movie.)

Having said that, the illustrations in this book are gorgeous. It is a treat, and a delight, to thumb through the book and only look at the pictures. The story adds to the enjoyment, but to me, the main event here is the artwork.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas, September 26, 2009

By 

Joy Frerichs (Chatsworth, Ga) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (Hardcover)

A beautifully illustrated book that embellishes the story by Baum. It will be cherished by readers who love Christmas stories.