The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

October 1, 2003
Hague's admirers and Oz aficionados may also be interested in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum. First published in 1902, the book follows Santa Claus from the time he's a baby through his years of toy-making and on to his role as deliverer of Christmas gifts; Hague contributes red-ink drawings as well as watercolors.

October 26, 2009
Santore sets Baum's 1902 story about the origins of Santa Claus in a lavishly detailed wooded fantasy landscape. The wood-nymph Necile (she strongly resembles Waterhouse's “Lady of Shalott”) adopts a human child, who she names Claus. As he grows up and leaves the forest, he devotes himself to the welfare of poor children by building toys, eventually enlisting magic reindeer and constructing a sleigh. Santa's evolution from humble woodsman to the man in the red suit will delight readers and answer a few questions to boot. Ages 4–8.