SANTA CLAUS: THE BEGINNING - Terry Broxson


Two orphan boys, Benjamin Timmons and John Nicholas are adopted by a toymaker, Rudolph Stern, in 1820, as they show talent in woodwork. They apprentice Stern, a kind and giving man, and become journeymen, on their way to becoming master craftsmen. One day, Mr. Stern passes away of a heart attack, and not long after, Benjamin dies from a cholera epidemic and John is left to run the toy making business by himself.

John is visited by the spirits of Ben and Rudolph and told of a workshop at the North Pole just for him. When he arrives he encounters magical elves, animals that ha can talk to and who can talk to him, and Jessica ... the manager of the castle where he will live.

Everything will come together, with Rudolph and Benjamin's oversight from beyond, to have John Nicholas become Santa Claus, and Jessica, his wife.

I was quite disappointed in this and I'm not entirely sure who the target audience is. It's not a picture book, it's not an easy reader, and yet it's too 'simple' for most readers.  

Although it's only 83 pages, we spend too much time going through the early life and growth as toymakers of the orphan boys.  Frankly, Benjamin isn't needed in this story at all. He's a major character who dies early.

On the surface, the book would seem to be leading up to the 'creation' of the familiar Santa Claus who delivers toys around the world, but actually this is a lead up to John marrying Jessica ... although we (and John) are told this will happen about a quarter of the way into the story.  Why?

I understand the attempt to pull a lot of the various myths, legends, and stories together but it's too much. It's the author trying to be clever rather than telling an interesting story.

The book is lightly illustrated and these illustrations do not help. They are not high quality or cute, and again, who is this book for?  The drawings are too simple for any child who can read the book, and not interesting enough for an adult reading to a child to turn the book around to show the art.

Looking for a good book? Santa Claus: The Beginning by Terry Broxson is definitely not a book for me, my children, or my grandchildren.  Probably not for yours either.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

1-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Santa Claus: The Beginning

author: Terry Broxson

publisher: Atmosphere Press

ISBN: 9798891320130

paperback, 84 pages

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