Seeing the publisher name North South and the illustrator Marcus Pfister I was keen to explore this Christmas book. Sadly this is another one of those treasures that is out of print but you might be lucky and find a copy in a library as I did. It was first published in 1987. The original German book had the title Wie Sankt Nikolaus einen Gehilfen fand. The English translation is by Elizabeth D Crawford.
The Woodcutter lives alone and isolated. He hears whispers behind his back when he goes into town to sell his wood so he rarely goes there. Of course he cannot avoid the visits all together because he need supplies. One day, as he enters the village, he sees everyone is busy with Christmas preparations. The Woodcutter had forgotten about Christmas but that evening, back in his little cottage he hears something.
"Suddenly he heard a soft tinkling of bells coming from the path through the woods. He ran to the window and, yes - it really was! Santa Claus was driving toward the village with his little donkey and heavily laden sleigh."
The Woodcutter opens his door and invites Santa to share a hot cup of tea.
As darkness falls Santa sets off again the the village but his sack is split. Santa does not realise the precious gifts are now spilling out onto the snow. Luckily the Woodcutter sees gifts littering the snow. He picks everything up and hurries after Santa. Santa arrives in the village and discovers all the gifts are gone. He sits down in the village in despair.
"Suddenly he saw a figure appear on the horizon, tiny at first, then larger and larger and more distinct. Who would want to be out and about so late in this deep snow? It was a man, carrying a gigantic sack on his back."
It is a joyful meeting but there is a bonus. Santa explains he needs a helper. He asks the Woodcutter whose name is actually Rupert if he would like to help.
"Would Rupert like to! His eyes sparkled with joy."
Delivering the presents with Santa the village people see Rupert in a new light. They regret their past unkindness to this lonely man.
I would pair Santa Claus and the Woodcutter with The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. As is always the way with this blog as I dig into details about the book I'm reading I make exciting discoveries. Kathrin Siegenthaler is the author of Hopper's Easter surprise also illustrated by Marcus Pfister.
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