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The Boy Who Would Be Santa
The Boy Who Would Be Santa is the first historical fiction picture book rendering Saint Nicholas as a boy and man, using first person perspective with extensive background information.
Imagine Saint Nicholas speaking honestly to children about his early happiness, his parents' charity, his struggle after their deaths, his teenage journey of discovery, kindness to orphans, miracles, and evolution into Santa Claus!
The story distinguishes itself
Nicholas's heart-felt, first-person message. "Be kind and be happy every day. Each of you can become a santa too!" will resonate with children everywhere.Surprising, lesser-known truths about Nicholas's background.Factual linkage of Nicholas to Santa and Saint Nicholas celebrations around the world.Inviting, clarifying back matter with an extensive bibliography for families.
Sitting by the fire this cold Colorado morning, tears sprung from my eyes reading this precious and beautifully illustrated children's book, 'The Boy Who Would Be Santa.' I discovered the buried treasure of the life of Saint Nicholas that christens and recovers the sense of the sacred behind the beautiful but often commercialized tradition of Santa Claus and Christmas gift giving.
The 'once upon a time' simplicity of this little book will inspire parents to pray for their children as the heroes they were meant to be and instill values that will cause the child to 'keep them in their hearts' after they have passed away. I saw a vision of hundreds of parents and grandparents reading this book to their children and grands on Christmas morning - making the magic moment of gift giving sacred.
-Lou Engle, Pastor/Founder of The Call, President of Lou Engle Ministries
A magical telling of a true tale of transformation! Beautifully written and illustrated book about a well-known, but somewhat misunderstood saint. This factually accurate story sets the record straight about the connection between a historical person, Nicholas, and the magical Christmas tradition of Santa Claus.
The book is easily understood by children of all ages and will help families start new Christmas traditions based on 'the rest of the story!'
-Danny Gallagher, WSJF Station Manager, DJ, Creator of Top Tunes Weekly
Mike is a recently retired school psychologist, counselor and teacher. Playing Saint Nicholas at Christmas markets in Germany and Maryland left him surprised by Americans' unfamiliarity with Nicholas's direct connection to Santa Claus. He intensely researched Nicholas as the boy, bishop, and saint who evolved into Santa.
Mike's first picture book was about Saint Brendan's voyage before Columbus. He loves reading, writing, hiking, basketball, guitar and his huge extended family.
Imagine Saint Nicholas speaking honestly to children about his early happiness, his parents' charity, his struggle after their deaths, his teenage journey of discovery, kindness to orphans, miracles, and evolution into Santa Claus!
The story distinguishes itself
Nicholas's heart-felt, first-person message. "Be kind and be happy every day. Each of you can become a santa too!" will resonate with children everywhere.Surprising, lesser-known truths about Nicholas's background.Factual linkage of Nicholas to Santa and Saint Nicholas celebrations around the world.Inviting, clarifying back matter with an extensive bibliography for families.
Sitting by the fire this cold Colorado morning, tears sprung from my eyes reading this precious and beautifully illustrated children's book, 'The Boy Who Would Be Santa.' I discovered the buried treasure of the life of Saint Nicholas that christens and recovers the sense of the sacred behind the beautiful but often commercialized tradition of Santa Claus and Christmas gift giving.
The 'once upon a time' simplicity of this little book will inspire parents to pray for their children as the heroes they were meant to be and instill values that will cause the child to 'keep them in their hearts' after they have passed away. I saw a vision of hundreds of parents and grandparents reading this book to their children and grands on Christmas morning - making the magic moment of gift giving sacred.
-Lou Engle, Pastor/Founder of The Call, President of Lou Engle Ministries
A magical telling of a true tale of transformation! Beautifully written and illustrated book about a well-known, but somewhat misunderstood saint. This factually accurate story sets the record straight about the connection between a historical person, Nicholas, and the magical Christmas tradition of Santa Claus.
The book is easily understood by children of all ages and will help families start new Christmas traditions based on 'the rest of the story!'
-Danny Gallagher, WSJF Station Manager, DJ, Creator of Top Tunes Weekly
Mike is a recently retired school psychologist, counselor and teacher. Playing Saint Nicholas at Christmas markets in Germany and Maryland left him surprised by Americans' unfamiliarity with Nicholas's direct connection to Santa Claus. He intensely researched Nicholas as the boy, bishop, and saint who evolved into Santa.
Mike's first picture book was about Saint Brendan's voyage before Columbus. He loves reading, writing, hiking, basketball, guitar and his huge extended family.
42 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2025
6 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Mike McGrew
2 books2 followersI am part of a very large family with 55 nieces and nephews, 3 children and 6 grandchildren, and 5 siblings. I've been married for 47 years and worked as a teacher and school psychologist for 40 years - primarily in special education and alternative programs. I love reading, writing, basketball, walking fast, guitar, singing and European beers. I lived in Germany for six years and traveled all over Eurpoe an some in the Middle East. I now live near the Chesapeake and love the bay and ocean.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 27, 2025
Not worth buying. The intention of the author is admirable (trying to let ignorant Americans know that "Santa Claus" is really a Catholic saint), but why waste $20 of your hard-earned money for something you can get off a DuckDuckGo search for free?
I bought this title, thinking that it would be a good Christmas gift. Fortunately, it arrived late, so I could not give it to one of the grandkids. Doing so would have been a supreme embarrassment.
The lesson I learned is that, just because a Catholic group promoted or referenced the book (as CatholicVote.org did) does not mean that I should have purchased it. You should learn the same.
I bought this title, thinking that it would be a good Christmas gift. Fortunately, it arrived late, so I could not give it to one of the grandkids. Doing so would have been a supreme embarrassment.
The lesson I learned is that, just because a Catholic group promoted or referenced the book (as CatholicVote.org did) does not mean that I should have purchased it. You should learn the same.
September 30, 2025
Excellent story for both kids and adults! The story is easy to follow and fun, but still educational. Especially enjoyed the different versions of Santa in different countries at the end!
November 16, 2025
This was....weird. I really don't know what else to say.
*I won a copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.*
*I won a copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.*
November 29, 2025
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews