Customer Reviews

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Santa Claus. Two simple words that can make most children smile. L. Frank Baum once again has touched the spirits of many with his tale based on the legendary Santa Claus. I remember it being read to me by my father as a young child. As an adult, it is still magical with every reading. The story tells the tale of an abandoned baby in the woods who was adopted and raised by fairies in their forest. As Claus, a mortal, grows up among the fairies and other fascinating immortals, he learns all of their ways and secrets. When he is old enough, the Great Ak takes Claus on a journey to see how humans really live. After the trip, Claus leaves the fairy's forest to live on his own, for he has decided to try and help mankind. The first toy, was a cat that he had whittled, and painted to look real. It was given to a young, lost boy to comfort him. With this gift, and the help of his immortal friends, Claus began his legend of unselfish giving. Over the years, he was named a saint by the many who he touched. There are beautiful stories and illustrations of his gift-making and giving, along with those of the obstacles that he faced, including a fierce battle between good and evil immortals. From his adoption, to the night when Santa Claus became immortal, the book comes to life in the imagination. It is a tale that will touch children, as well as adults - perfect for nighttime reading during the holidays. As the holidays approach, I again look forward to losing myself in the spirit and magic,of Santa Claus.

Mike Ploog's adaptation of L Frank Baum's "Life and adventures of Santa Claus", is one of the most BEAUTIFULLY illustrated graphic novels available. Ploog's water-colour paintings bring so much life to this warm and exciting fairytale.

We meet Santa as an infant, and follow his upbringing as the only human among the hidden woodnymphs. As he grows older, he dedicates his life to help the humans (in his own generous way) against the evil and corruptive Awgwas.

This magical book will get you in to the Christmas-spirit. Children AND grown-ups will love this book!

The author of The Wizard of Oz deserves consideration and respect for the delightful fantasies he has provided the world. This syrupy recreation of Santa's youth, manhood and ultimate immortality is quaintly charming--if you are young at heart. There are several serious issues mentioned: if we are to die, why are we born at all? No outright religion is preached, but this is Baum's philosophy: "Everything perishes except the world itself and its keepers...but while life lasts, everything on earth has its use. The wise seek ways to be helpful to the world, for the helpful ones are sure to live again."

This book recounts how an orphan named Claus found his true calling--to bring joy to the children of the world. Every man has his own mission, but Claus' dilemma is the morality of giving gifts to rich children, when there are so many who are poor. One chapter deals with the age-old battle between Good and Evil.

Baum describes how each custom associated with the secular celebration of Christmas came into existence--without reference to the Nativity. Baum truly loved children, as he dedicated most of his writing to their enjoyment. He concludes about Sants Claus: "No one..was so greatly beloved as Santa Claus, because none other was so unselfish as to devote hismelf to making others happy. For a generous deed....spreads and leaves its mark on all nature and endures through many generations." A sentimental tale for children of all ages.

No surprises here, no amazing storyline. Just the wonderfully childish imagination we've come to expect from Baum afer 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. Though a timeless classic for people of all ages, this story is more suitable for grown-ups trying to rediscover their youth - to a certain extent anyway. Set in a fantasy realm, this book basically tells Santa's life story according to Baum's imagination. Remember the days when we left chicken legs and orange juice for Santa under the tree? Sigh... Makes a nice Christmas gift... way better than Harry Potter.

The pictures for this edition of "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" are really the main features. Ploog was the conceptual artist for Disney's "Return To Oz" and it shows particularly in the nome king who resembles the character from the movie. His characters are well done and very original. The great Ak is well portrayed and seems like a fatherly tender giant while the awgwas are suitably horrifying. His Santa Claus begins as a cute child who grows to be a suitable Santa Claus who truly feels the need to help the world's children with his toys. Ploog's nymphs are like stylized Barbie Dolls with boufaunt hair cuts. They could look more otherworldly but then again that is not the biggest flaw in this version of Baum's tale. The main flaw here is changing the way the battle of good and evil was fought. In the book the immortals seek to defend Claus from the powers of the Awgwas but in this version Santa joins the battle and ends up killing the king of the Awgwas. the aim of the battle here is to rescue the pet monkey, Toy, who dies in the battle. The mistake here is to have the man of peace, Santa Claus, kill a major character which detracts from Baum's message of a character who would never fight a battle.

However the pictures here are very good and fun to look at. For the most part the adaptation is not bad but perhaps doing the pictures for un-edited version would have been better. it is still a great book to look at.

Philip

L. Frank Baum was one of the great fantasy writers of the early 20th century -- in fact, were it not for Tolkien, I'd be tempted to call him the greatest in 100 years. His Oz books created a beautiful, vibrant land that still draws readers a century later. This book, his twist on the legend of Santa Claus, is part of that wonderful tapestry he wove.

Forget all of the Santa Claus legends you've read before -- there's no North Pole, no elves, no Bergermeistermeisterberger -- the story starts with a baby found in the woods by the fairy Necile. She raises him as her son, Claus (or "Ni-claus," meaning "Little Claus"), until the child begins to wonder about his own people. Shown the dangers of the human world by the great Ak, Claus decides to venture forth amongst the mortals regardless.

Claus gets a lot of credit in this story, from inventing the first toy to inspiring a war amongst immortals to retrieve them, and all of it is done in Baum's clear, clean style that is as easy to read today as it was in his time. It might not be the best book for a small child, who may ask questions trying to reconcile this unique version of Santa with the one he knows, but for an older child who understands that the spirit of Santa Claus is what's important it is a wonderful book. I re-read it every December.

In author L. Frank Baum's book, nymph Necile finds a tiny babe in the forest of Buzee and raises him along with the help of the great spirits, elves, nymphs, knooks and ryls under the wisdom and guidance of the great Ak (Leader of all the great Spirits). She names him Claus who later grows up asking what is his purpose in life, and then decides to make toys to deliver to all boys and girls on one special night out of the year. But as time passes he soon he discovers that he is growing old. . .

A great book by L. Frank Baum that explores the fantastical life of Santa Claus-a real joy and gem to read, especially when you come to realize how many years ago this book was written. Baum's work here is so imaginative that many of today's stories of Santa Claus in my opinion pale in comparison.

When I was growing up I always heard "The Night Before Christmas" or watched different christmas cartoons on tv, but I never knew a story like this existed. This story is excellent. Baum ties in everything about Santa Claus, also why parents and toy stores have to help him. Some adults may have a problem with the pagan slant in the story but Children know no bounds. Be a good parent and start off a new christmas tradition by telling you kids this story at christmas. I have!

L F Baum is a "wizard" of story telling. What a fun read. Informative as well. Now I know where Santa came from and why there IS a Santa Claus!

Mike Ploog is known for his horror comics at Marvel but he's equally adept at humor, perhaps even better. This is probably the lushest art he's done and the story (by Frank Baum) is charming. It was a deal when I paid full price when it first came out and it's certainly a deal at the price it goes for now.