Title: The Legend of the Two Santas
Author: Frederick Tirrell
Publisher: Stonehenge Literary and Media
ISBN: 979-8-8690-2003-1
Pages: 26
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Christmas Story
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Hollywood Book Reviews
Author Frederick Tirrell has created a delightful children’s illustrated Christmas story titled, The Legend of the Two Santas.
In this tale, a young boy, Rick, is home alone on Christmas eve when he hears a thump outside – low and behold Santa has slipped off the roof of his house and fallen into a snowbank. Being confined to a wheelchair, Rick bravely goes to his front door, opens it, and rolls out to help Santa up. His wheelchair falls over when it hits a rock, and both he and Santa are lying on their sides out in the snow. Santa stands up and notices Rick has his mobility issue, and now Santa helps Rick to get up and back into his wheelchair. Once that is done, the two of them go into the house to warm up a bit by the fire. But Santa is behind schedule to deliver presents all around the world that evening and must get back to his sled and Reindeer. Rick offers to help Santa by driving his sled, but Santa says he must be off, and up-up-and-away Santa goes off into the dark blue starry night.
A short time later, Rick hears the jingle-bells again, looks out his window, and sees Santa returning. After giving some thought to Rick’s offer to help out, Santa takes him up on it! He gives Rick a hat, coat, and gloves – as they both fly off in Santa’s sled to finish delivering gifts. Santa drops Rick off later at home and returns to the North Pole. As townspeople comment the next day they thought they saw two Santas in the sled, only Rick knows this little secret – and keeps it to himself.
Just when you thought all the stories about Christmas have been told, along comes this creative and heart-felt tale which is unique and written in a way youngsters will be totally captivated by the details. The author uses bold type for dialogue, helping young readers differentiate between the narration and the conversation – a nice touch. Having Rick being wheelchair-ridden gives his character a new twist for inclusiveness of people with disabilities. Being a short book, it is a quick read; the perfect length for a bedtime story along with very artistic illustrations to help convey the story.
The Legend of the Two Santas gave me a cold chill when Santa and Rick were lying in the snow, and a warm-and-fuzzy feeling when they went inside by the fire. The saturation of colors makes for a beautiful gallery of illustrations, and the twist of the plot is inspiring – and provides hope to readers to get what they wish for – as wishes do to come true.