The Legend of St. Nicholas ~ A Story of Christmas Giving

In The Legend of St. Nicholas, the new artwork, created by Marley and Me illustrator, Richard Cowdrey, captivates audiences and tells the story of a young man named Nicholas, who was moved by the plight of the poor and needy. Nicholas spent his life secretly helping the poor all over the world, giving gifts on Christmas Eve to remind people of the greatest Gift of all, Jesus Christ. This gentle Christmas book introduces the original St. Nicholas and offers inspiration for readers to become cheerful givers themselves. The final pages in the book include fun Father Christmas traditions in other lands.

This book can be found on Amazon, Deeper Shopping , and other retailers
About the Author:
Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of over 400 books and still can’t believe she gets to write for a living, helping children of all ages grow spiritually. She and her husband, Joe, both write from rural Ohio, where they’re blessed with three children and a variety of horses, dogs, and cats.

About the Illustrator:

Richard Cowdrey’s favorite things to draw and paint are the things that reflect the awesomeness of God and His creation. From vast landscapes to the littlest bug on a leaf, Richard marvels at the beauty in the details. Richard's bestselling children's books include Bad Dog, Marley and A Very Marley Christmas.

I received this book from BOOK LOOK blogger program in exchange for my honest opinion. 

My Thoughts:

I read this book, then read it to my 7yr old daughter also. We both really liked it. The book is hardback, has beautifully bright illustrated pictures that really capture the readers/viewers attention - especially little ones who are looking verses reading. The story is short, sweet and has a good message about the importance of thinking of others.

It starts out with a young boy, Nick, who is going shopping for Christmas at the last minute and is really more focused on what he wants and how he can have money left over than on what he is giving. As he is walking through the store he hears his name. When he goes to check, a man dressed as Santa is telling a story about a boy named Nicholas who came from a wealthy family. His parents frequently took him on trips to far away places. In all those places he sees children in need. His parents pass away, and he is left alone to decide what to do with all his wealth. He seeks advice from his friends and God, and finally decides to give to people in need secretly. 

Personally, we have never really pushed Santa at our house. Oh we talk about him, and joke around, but I have never taught my kids that Santa brings their gifts, or that he is all-knowing, because we believe only God is all-knowing and He is the one who meets our needs and our wants. Occasionally, we may put a present under the tree from "Santa", but it is more of a joke than taken seriously, and keeps the kids guessing as to who gave it.

This book shares the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth, as well as the story behind St. Nicholas, who gave gifts to the children and from whom Santa may have originated. This book encourages kids to focus on the giving aspect of Christmas instead of just the receiving end. It will be a keepsake to read in our home at Christmastime.