The Boy with a Wish: The Nicholas Stories #1

By Harry B. Knights

Book Overview

FRANCES AND WESLEY BOCK BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE 2004
ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM SELECTION

"This book introduces a new legend to explain the origins of Saint Nicholas . . . a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas."
--Children's Literature

Parents and grandparents know well that timeless tales generate endless questions about our holiday traditions, such as "Where did Saint Nicholas come from?" "How does he visit so many children in just one night?" "Why does he leave gifts for girls and boys?"

The Nicholas Stories series answers these questions about Christmas in a way that shares the true special spirit of the holiday.

Nicholas was a little boy who could not use his legs. The children in his village did not play with him. Like his father, he became skilled with his hands and decided to fix as many broken and unwanted toys and dolls as he could. Nicholas had an unselfish wish, to make children happy, so he decided to give the toys to children in the village on their birthdays.

The father of a sick little girl from the other side of the mountain appears at Nicholas's door one day with a plea. He is too poor to buy a doll to celebrate her birthday and lift her spirits. Nicholas gladly makes the most beautiful doll ever for her but becomes lost in a terrible storm on his way home from delivering the gift. In the end, Nicholas is rewarded for his efforts in a way that boys and girls around the world look forward to every year.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589800591
• ISBN13: 9781589800595
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 11.9" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Teaches Value of Thinking of others

What a great book. Read to my two boys age 4 and 6 and they were engrossed in this story of the boy Nicholas who's good deeds for others led to him becoming St Nicholas (Santa Claus). The holidays are a great time to teach kids about thinking of and giving to others and this book offers a great platform for doing just that.

"The Boy With A Wish"

"This is the first in a series of the "Nicholes Stories" childrens books. It is a tale about a boy named Nicholas, whose simple gift of love is seen by Angels, and his wish is a lasting reward that effects the world forever." These books will become cherished family traditions for the holidays. "The Nicholas Stories have been designed to provide inspiration to young and old and is designed in content for all people of the world." This book and the others that follow bridge the gap between the true meaning of Christmas and Saint Nicholas while reminding us all to live life with compassion, honesty and belief. I adored them and can't wait to read them to my grandchildren!!