Is there a Santa Claus? Erie author offers simple answer for parents with wondering kids
It’s a question that's often asked by children this time of year: “Mommy, is there a Santa Claus?”
If you ever are caught off guard and don’t quite know how to answer this question without ruining the holiday magic, Erie author AmyJo Shrader might just have the answer for you in her new book, “I am Santa.”
Shrader, who works in special education in the Millcreek School District, found inspiration for this book from her two sons.
“My boys always asked me if there really was a Santa, and I would always say yes there was,” Shrader said. “Thankfully they never asked if there was a Santa Claus who lived in the North Pole or anything. They just always asked if there was a Santa and I always said yes.”
Shrader decided to help others with this question by writing a children's book. A simple explanation for parents that can be ready just before bedtime.
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“It’s about a little boy who wants to know if there really is a Santa,” said Shrader. “So he comes home and asks his mom and says, 'I want you to tell me the truth, is there really a Santa?' And she goes through yes there is someone who sees you when you’re sleeping and knows if you are awake, good or bad.”
So, is there a Santa?
The book then explains that it’s the typical Santa who lives at the North Pole, works with elves and flies with reindeer. However, the concept of Santa might just be the people who are in your life, including parents, grandparents, relatives and friends that take care of you.
“There is a Santa Claus,” said Shrader. “It’s just not who they think it is.”
How has the community reacted to the book?
Shrader said that all of the parents that have read the book claimed that it was very helpful. A recent case was a reader who had a son entering middle school who still believed. The parents were nervous about their son being teased and bullied, so this book offered a simple explanation at a perfect time.
The publishing process
It took Shrader about a year to complete the book. With the help of a friend and fellow teacher, she was able to get in touch with an illustrator, get the book published and even get the publishing details figured out.
The illustrator, Bea Joy Javier, lives in the Philippines and worked wonders for Shrader, she said.
“She took pictures of my family,” Shrader said. “She even included pictures of our animals and she sent me pictures all the time, (asking) what do you think of this? And we tweaked a few, but she did such a wonderful job that I always say that, yes the words are cool in the book but her pictures are truly amazing.”
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Where can you find the book?
The 30-page paperback book can be found at multiple locations around town, including Werner Books at 3608 Liberty St., Lake Erie Variety LLC at 3330 W. 26th St., and Barnes and Nobel at 5909 Peach St. The book can also be found online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com. Cost is listed as $12.99 on Amazon.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 'I am Santa': Book by Erie's AmyJo Shrader offers answer for parents
