The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a 1902 children's book, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Mary Cowles Clark

Do you want to snuggle up with a good Christmas book for kids? The story of Santa Claus is beautifully captured in this classic Christmas novella and is one of the best children's Christmas books of all time. It is a wonderful Christmas book for adults to read as well. A Kidnapped Santa Claus was published two years after Baum's The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus and shares its mythological basis of fairies and demons. As evil forces conspire to cancel Christmas and capture Santa Claus, four of Santa's trusted helpers struggle to deliver the presents on time and ultimately save Christmas. A Kidnapped Santa Claus was written L. Frank Baum and published in 1904. It has been called "one of Baum's most beautiful stories" and has contributed significant influence to modern Christmas folklore. It has been enjoyed by readers, young and old, for over 115 years! This beautiful reprint of the original story is unedited and unabridged, preserving the original A Kidnapped Santa Claus for your reading pleasure. It makes a wonderful gift for book lovers or a beautiful stocking stuffer. Excerpt: "Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the ryls, knooks, pixies and fairies, live with him, and every one is as busy as can be from one year's end to another. It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook chuckles to itself as it leaps rollicking between its green banks; the wind whistles merrily in the trees; the sunbeams dance lightly over the soft grass, and the violets and wild flowers look smilingly up from their green nests. To laugh one needs to be happy; to be happy one needs to be content. " Features: Original 1904 Text Classic Christmas Short Story Dimensions: 5x8 inches Matte Cover

Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the ryls, knooks, pixies and fairies, live with him, and every one is as busy as can be from one year's end to another. It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook chuckles to itself as it leaps rollicking between its green banks; the wind whistles merrily in the trees; the sunbeams dance lightly over the soft grass, and the violets and wild flowers look smilingly up from their green nests. To laugh one needs to be happy; to be happy one needs to be content. And throughout the Laughing Valley of Santa Claus contentment reigns supreme. On one side is the mighty Forest of Burzee. At the other side stands the huge mountain that contains the Caves of the Daemons. And between them the Valley lies smiling and peaceful. One would thing that our good old Santa Claus, who devotes his days to making children happy, would have no enemies on all the earth; and, as a matter of fact, for a long period of time he encountered nothing but love wherever he might go. But the Daemons who live in the mountain caves grew to hate Santa Claus very much, and all for the simple reason that he made children happy.Ê

Kidnapped Santa Claus is a delightful holiday tale that offers more than just seasonal cheer. Readers should dive into this enchanting story to experience the timeless themes of friendship, bravery, and the magic of Christmas. The story takes a familiar figure, Santa Claus, and throws him into an unexpected situation – a kidnapping! This twist grabs the reader's attention and makes them curious to see how Santa gets out of the situation. The story adds to the existing lore of Santa Claus by introducing fantastical creatures and a new twist on the Christmas Eve tradition. The story features a clear battle between Santa Claus (representing good) and the demons (representing evil). This classic theme resonates with readers and makes for a satisfying resolution with bravery, wit, and the spirit of Christmas, they embark on a daring mission to save the beloved symbol of joy and generosity. Santa Claus is whisked away by a band of grumpy goblins on Christmas Eve! The children of the world are in danger of a joyless holiday. Will Dasher and Blinky be able to overcome the odds and bring Santa back in time? Can Christmas be saved? L. Frank Baum's imaginative narrative transports readers to a whimsical world filled with captivating characters and heartwarming adventures. It's a story that celebrates the spirit of giving, the power of unity, and the joy of overcoming adversity – making it a must-read for anyone seeking to rediscover the true meaning of the holiday season. The story adds to the existing lore of Santa Claus by introducing fantastical creatures and a new twist on the Christmas Eve tradition. This inventive contribution helped shape the modern image of Santa Claus for some readers. Also, it is a delightful adventure for children of all ages’ readers and make it an enjoyable addition to Christmas story collections.

Santa Claus is coming to town...at least, that was the plan, but now his elves have started going missing, kidnapped by some insidious figure in a black cloak, and despite the magic swirling about the place, the toys aren't going to put themselves together. So begins a terrifying game of cat and mouse as Kris Kringle searches The Land of Christmas for his abducted minions, unaware that he is to play an integral part in his foe's plans. Krampus is pissed at Santa after lending him his snowblower and never getting it back. His punishment? To build a Human Santapede long enough to stretch around The Land of Christmas, and at its helm, the jolly fat man himself. Can Santa - aided by his best foreman, Finklefoot - get his elves back, defeat Krampus, and save Christmas before it is too late, or will Krampus succeed in creating the ghastliest single-file organism the North Pole has ever seen? Ho-Ho-Holy Shit, things are about to get messy..

First published in 1896, The Burglar’s Christmas is a short story by the great American writer Willa Cather. Set in Chicago on a cold Christmas Eve, the down-and-out Crawford learns the value of forgiveness. 'The most sensuous of writers, Willa Cather builds her imagined world almost as solidly as our five senses build the universe around us.' — Rebecca West 'Her voice, laconical and richly sensuous, sings out with a note of unequivocal love for the people she is setting down on the page.' — Marina Warner

"The Fir Tree" by Hans Christian Andersen, published originally in 1845, follows the life of a young fir tree living in the woods (of all places). Compared to the other trees around him, he feels small, spindly and short, and he constantly utters complaint to any and all woodland creatures within ear shot. Most pointedly, he wonders "when will he truly be alive?" When he sees humans cut down some beautiful trees nearby and then drag them across the snow, he asks the swallows, "Where are they going?" In answer they tell him of all Christmas's splendor and beauty of which those lucky trees will soon be a part. Yet when the time comes for our little fir tree to have his turn, he's taught an unexpected and irreversible lesson. No one is better suited to adapt this sweet and sorrowful tale than Lilli Carre. Creator of The Tales of Woodland Pete and The Lagoon, her sensibility will graft beautifully over the antiquated yet quirky tale by the great master Hans Christian Andersen.