- tells the story of Nicholas of Myra, a tenacious example of generosity and courage
- he is put in jail for being a Christian and not treated well
- includes note to parents & educators, a “for reflection” section & helpful bibliography
- convo: mistreatment, Santa mentioned
Type: long picture book
Ages: 5+
Author: The Voice of the Martyrs with Cheryl Odden
Illustrator: R.F. Palavicini
These books can lead into great conversations with your kids–for example, you could ask them what they would do if all our Bibles were burned or talk about the infamous slap Nicholas gave a false teacher–was it right? Should he have reacted differently?
For older children, there are great discussions to be had regarding false teachers like Arius, who is part of this story.
The end connects Nicholas’s story to the various legends in our world today, including Santa Claus, and briefly describes where similar persecution is still happening. Its conclusion is so good, I want to include it here:
This Christmas as we celebrate Christ’s birth and enjoy the songs and tales of Santa Claus, remember the story of Nicholas as well as countless other Christians around the world who are standing for Christ today. May they encourage us to give generously and live courageously!