December, for me, and I’m sure for many others arrives with a nip in the air and a gentle tricking down of the Christmas spirit. Every year I retrieve Christmas books and put them around the house to revisit the spirit of the season. Joy to the World – Claus Dadi’s Christmas Book for Children (Talking Cub, 2025) comes as a refreshing compilation of stories, poems, thoughts and recipes all packed into an interesting book! Illustrations by Suhasini Thapliyal enhance the texts and the colour scheme of red, white and green complete the Christmas look.
Staring off with Jerry Pinto’s interesting version of Jesus’s birth in The Night in Bethlehem, the book takes us through a curated world of words. The book also features a heartfelt poem by Rabindranath Tagore. It was in this book that I learnt about the Desi Christmas cuisine and sweets that include Kulkuls, Rose cookies, Nevrio, Bebinca and more. And to think that I always thought of Christmas in terms of plum cakes and cookies (disclaimer- they’re great as well…but it helps to have options)! Some easy to make recipes are also mentioned in the book and young readers may have fun trying them out.
What’s Christmas without the classics? Claus Dadi leads the readers through some favourite Christmas stories and poems, also retelling classic tales like the Elves and the Shoemaker that have enthralled generations of children.
One story that I was particularly drawn to and that was new for me was the classic tale The Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum. It is profound as it merges a simple plot where Santa is more than just a giver of gifts. It gently weaves in a philosophical view using characters like the playful demons and magical landscapes, making it accessible to children while still meaningful for adults. Gentle, imaginative, and reassuring, the tale endures as a reminder that generosity and goodness ultimately protect themselves.
Joy to the World – Claus Dadi’s Christmas Book for Children opens up the magic of an indigenous Christmas, that is still anchored to a global feel, and that’s the kind of spirit I wish to hold on to!
