The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving

The Legend of St. Nicholas is an illustrated, faith-based Christmas picture book about the origins of St. Nicholas and the practice of giving. Its story connects secret help for people in need with Christian themes, making it a seasonal read for families seeking that perspective.

At a glance

Picture book by Dandi Daley Mackall with illustrations by Richard Cowdrey.
Tells of St. Nicholas secretly helping people in need and giving gifts on Christmas Eve.
Connects Christmas generosity with the Christian message of Jesus Christ.
The listing describes traditions from different countries and positions the book for Advent and Christmas reading.

Price

$8.56Save 57%

Reference price: ~~$19.99~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Often bought together

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend

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A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick

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Pros and cons

Pros

The giving-centered story combines St. Nicholas lore with an explicitly Christian interpretation of Christmas.
The picture-book format and seasonal focus suit shared family reading.
Customer feedback highlights the story, illustrations and religious content.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Zonderkidz
Publication date	September 23, 2014
Edition	Illustrated
Language	English
Print length	32 pages
ISBN-10	0310731151
ISBN-13	978-0310731153

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.02 pounds
Dimensions	9.2 x 0.42 x 11.2 inches

Audience
Reading age listed	2 - 7 years, from customers
Grade level	1 - 2

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing's suggested age range of 4–8 differs from the details section's reading age of 2 - 7 years, from customers. Customer feedback also differs on age suitability and story clarity, so consider the child's age and preferred level of explanation.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Families seeking a Christian Christmas story about St. Nicholas and generosity.
Caregivers choosing a short illustrated book for Advent or seasonal read-alouds.
Readers curious about the connection between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a secular account of Santa Claus or a book without Christian themes.
Readers looking for a longer or detailed historical study of St. Nicholas.

The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 670 ratings

5 stars77%77%
4 stars13%13%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars3%3%
1 star2%2%

Customer feedback highlights the way the story explains St. Nicholas and giving, along with appreciation for its illustrations and religious content. Some readers say the age suitability is questionable for young children, and views on clarity differ, from simple to confusing. For a 32-page picture book intended for seasonal family reading, these differences make the child's age and comfort with an explicit Christian interpretation worth considering.

Positive themes

Customers appreciate the explanation of St. Nicholas's legend and the focus on giving.
Customers praise the illustrations and find the religious content appropriate.

Negative themes

Some customers consider the book unsuitable for young children.

Mixed feedback

Customers disagree about age suitability and whether the story is clear or confusing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the book about?

It presents St. Nicholas as a man who secretly helped the poor and gave gifts at Christmas, tying his generosity to Christian themes.

Is this a secular Santa story?

No. The listing describes it as faith-based and connects Christmas giving with Jesus Christ.

What ages is it intended for?

The description calls it suitable for readers 4–8, while the details list a reading age of 2 - 7 years, from customers. Customer feedback also differs on age suitability.

Who wrote and illustrated the book?

Dandi Daley Mackall wrote it, and Richard Cowdrey illustrated it.