Presents the story of St. Nicholas, in the form of a fictional open letter, and explains the inspiration behind the Christmas tradition of Santa Claus, and the spirit of gift giving.

By the time Saint Nicholas gets to Cecile's house on Saint Nicholas Eve he is out of presents, but she remembers the wonderful chocolate boat in the nearby candy shop.

"The Nicholas Effect" is the story of the shooting of seven-year-old Nicholas Green. It tells how the Greens' decision to donate their son's organs saved the lives of five Italians and restored the sight of two others. It covers the murder trial, the making of "Nicholas' Gift," the Jamie Lee Curtis made-for-tv movie, the bell sent by Pope John Paul II to the Greens for their memorial tower and their unceasing campaign to bring attention to the tens of thousands of deaths caused every year by the worldwide shortage of donated organs. Running through it, like a thread, is the hearbreaking journey of Nicholas' parents and little sister to make something good come out of a senseless act of violence.

When two children appeal to Saint Nicholas to free their village from the heavy snow that is keeping everyone inside, he sends instead a mysterious parcel.

"Bestselling author Glenn Beck re-tells the story of Santa Claus, imagining him at the first Christmas and casting him as a guardian for the infant and adult Jesus"--

When Alexi learns from his babuskha that a Russian village church has been closed for sixty years, the resourceful young boy decides to prepare it for a Christmas miracle.

Following the success of her nostalgic "A Christmas to Remember, " artist D. Morgan spreads more good cheer with the release of "The Gift of Father Christmas." Sentimental prose accompanies inspirational paintings, Scriptures, quotations and the story of the "real" St. Nicholas. (June)