The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus, by Tim Slover
In this new origin tale of the man we know as Santa Claus, the narrative is told in a unique way. And the history begins in 1343 when young Klaus is orphaned during a wave of the Black Death. Raised to be a carpenter, Klaus was extremely gifted and had a genial demeanor with a penchant for helping others. But when he begins a tradition of making and delivering toys to the town’s children on Christmas Eve, a fellow carpenter Rolf Eckhof becomes filled with envy and malice.
This is an extremely charming and heart-warming tale. My only complaint was that it was too short! It was a quick read that can be consumed in less than a couple hours. The narrative is beautiful and inspiring. I can’t recommend this book enough to those who love Christmas, the spirit of giving, and of course Santa. The story is fast-paced, full of adventure, wonder, magic, charity, humor, and goodness. It’s wonderful tale for all ages, perfect for this holiday season.
This story is a radio drama too and Mr. Slover reads part of the story! The radio program is full of sound effects and music that really bring the story to life. It begins with the wind that Tim describes in the opening scene. There are two main readers–the modern day narrator (Tim Slover) and the narrator of The Green Book, Richard Johnstone.
It is a fun and FREE listen for anyone this holiday. My nieces especially liked to hear the sound of the bells! Anyway, the series can be heard via the website of the station that produced it. Just go to Classical89.org and type Christmas Chronicles in the search box on the right; or you can just follow the link http://www.classical89.org/programs/christmaschronicles/episodes/
Merry Christmas to you and yours! And help spread the word!