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In an imaginative twist on a Christmas legend, this book has Santa Claus beginning as a kindly gentleman who loves to deliver toys to children in the villages around the North Pole and help his neighbors with whatever projects they need to do. The story describes the way Mrs. Claus and their close friends, the elves, help Santa Claus to craft a sled to bring more toys around to the villages easier, enlist the help of friendly wolves to pull it, and then strive to help him to realize his dream of delivering toys to children throughout the world. As the story progresses, Santa gains his fabled reindeer and sleigh, uses a magical train, and enjoys a Christmas Eve adventure involving two truckers.
Taking a well-known figure like Santa Claus and writing about his possible origins with a sense of freshness or originality can be difficult, but this story manages to do exactly that extremely well. It feels like a solid choice for parents whose children want to hear about more adventures related to Santa Claus and his family, especially up at the North Pole. On that note, something that stands out about this story is the community effort shown to bring all the wonderful things shared to fruition. Mrs. Claus takes an active role throughout these adventures, as do the elves and others, and they become characters to root for just as much as Santa Claus himself. Giving such characters a chance to shine expands the legend of Santa Claus in new and clever ways and adds to this holiday tale's overall charm.