Saint Nicholas - Softcover

Tompert, Ann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1590783360 ISBN 13: 9781590783368

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2005

Synopsis

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle . . . Some historians trace these figures back to a man who lived in Asia Minor more than one thousand years ago. His name was Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. Over time, the facts of his life merged with legend. But behind the legend lies a remarkable life. Ann Tompert's dramatic and simply told biography presents the life of Nicholas through a skillful blending of fact and legend, while Michael Garland's mosaic art beautifully reflects the Mediterranean world of the fourth century. Whenever we remember the needy at Christmas or give a gift to a loved one, we are living in the spirit of Saint Nicholas, who lives on in the spirit of Christmas.

About this title

About the Author:

Ann Tompert is the author of many books for children, including Saint Patrick, which Booklist selected as one of the top ten religious books for children in 1998. She lives in Port Huron, Michigan.

Michael Garland has won numerous awards for his work. He is the illustrator of the Golden Kite Honor Award-winning Leah's Pony, by Elizabeth Friedrich. He lives with his family in Patterson, New York.

From Publishers Weekly:

In the third century, long before "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" became associated with the Christmas season, the man who would one day inspire that legend lived in the Mediterranean coastal town of Patara (in what is now Turkey). For this informative picture-book biography, Tompert (Saint Patrick) weaves together some of the most striking legends related to St. Nicholas. Becoming a bishop at such a tender age that he was called the Boy Bishop, Nicholas performed miracles in caring for his people, and his deeds were later to make him the patron saint of such diverse groups as women seeking husbands, students, sailors and more. Though this volume lacks a central compelling drama, Tompert employs a swift-moving chronology to emphasize Nicholas's purity, selflessness and faith. Departing from the style of his previous works, Garland's (Angel Cat; Leah's Pony) jewel-toned, mixed-media paintings mimic stone mosaic work; each element is composed of a mesh of tiny blocks. One quibble: the characters' expressions range chiefly from somber to distressed, and the heavy mood may prove off-putting to young readers. An author's note describes how Nicholas was viewed throughout history, including his modern evolution into Santa Claus. Ages 6-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1590783360
• ISBN 13: 9781590783368
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Garland Michael