Santa’s Gift

Description

Once upon a time a 35 foot tall Santa stood at the edge of town waving his mitten to all the good boys and girls as they left home or returned from out of town, smiling a hello or goodbye. He was a beloved landmark with his red suit and blue eyes. After 20 years of wishing safe travels to those that passed by, his bright red suit had faded, his beard had become chipped, and he had lost the twinkle in his eyes. Then one day… Santa disappeared.

Santa had been hauled off to a junkyard where he lay, face-down and forgotten. One day a local resident found Santa and decided to “Stand Santa Back Up.”

Santa’s Gift is the story of how a community came together to save a beloved landmark, restoring him back to his original jolly self and finding him a new home where he once again can wave safe travels to all that pass by.

SANTA’S GIFT is a book for the young and young at heart. It is a great story to share with your children or grandchildren and will include documentation of the restoration of Evansville, Indiana’s Santa statue. Do not delay – Order your copies TODAY!

A portion of the proceeds will go to support and sustain this historical landmark! Many thanks to Ron McKeethen for finding and saving Santa!

About the Author:
Angie has been an educator in early childhood and elementary education for the past 22 years. She is the author of a children’s history book, Where the River Grins, used in Evansville, Indiana schools, and has published children’s poetry in various publications. Angie has presented at a state level IAEYC Conference and is available for workshops and teacher trainings. Her presentation Castles, Cabins, and Barnyards: If you Build it…They will Learn is a hands-on approach to early childhood storytelling and role-play activities. Angie is a member of RiverTown Storytellers and is available for storytelling in your area. She is the creator of StoryChorus, an interactive form of storytelling where the kids and kids at heart become part of the story through rhythm, sounds, and voices. Contact Angie for more information about her unique storytelling style! Angie is a member of 4C of Southern Indiana, IAEYC, SCBWI, RiverTown Storytellers and The Evansville Bicentennial Committee. Angie lives in Evansville, Indiana with her husband and four children. Her favorite beagle Gracie lives there too!

Check out the prestigious review from Kirkus Reviews.

KIRKUS REVIEW

“In this picture book based on true events, a community’s landmark Santa Claus statue is renovated and restored.”

For many years, families in Evansville, Indiana, knew they were getting close to home when they could see a roadway Santa Claus statue: “And in the darkened distance, / stands an image in the light. / We see his mitten waving, / up ahead, a welcome sight!” Throughout the year, his statue—one arm raised in a friendly greeting—could be seen hailing passersby. But over time, the statue became less jolly, getting cracked, faded, and worn. Then it disappeared, abandoned in a junkyard. But in 2016, the community came together to have the statue repaired and repainted, adding a time capsule with photos, letters, and other relics from locals. Now Santa stands and waves year-round again. A supplementary section explains, with photographs, how the real-life rescue came about, helping to fill out the story. Angie Karcher (The Legendary R.A. “Cowboy” Jones, 2014, etc.) has a good ear for meter and rhyme, and the story of loss and restoration is an appealing one for children who celebrate Christmas and love Santa. The illustrations, by debut illustrator Dana Karcher, are also attractive, with their soft colors and well-rendered details, although it’s unclear at first whether Santa is flat or 3-D. It’s possible that not everyone appreciates a 35-foot statue of Santa through all seasons of the year, but the book takes for granted that it’s beloved.”

A well-told, warmhearted story that underlines how a town can work together on a common goal.”