The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

An imaginative work first published in 1902, L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus tells the story of Claus, an orphaned boy raised by various immortal creatures in an enchanted forest. When he reaches adulthood, Claus is told to live among mortals; he is disheartened initially by poverty, war, and other negative aspects of humanity. He becomes well-known for his kindness to children, and this enthusiasm leads to the invention of the first toys.