Nicholas Edwards

The Return of Santa Paws is the second book in Nicholas Edwards’s Santa Paws series. In this one, Santa Paws (aka Nick) has settled in with the Callahan family and loves being their dog. He’s particularly attached to the children, Gregory, and his older sister, Patricia. It’s Christmastime once again, and the family is planning to spend the holiday at their grandparents’ cabin in Vermont. Their parents are driving, but their Uncle Steve, who is a pilot, is flying so that he can come show more back quickly in a couple of days for work. Gregory and Patricia have flown with Steve several times before and love it, so they decide to take Santa Paws and go with him. However, before they reach their destination, a mechanical failure causes the plane’s engine to stall and Steve must crash-land it in the middle of a snowy forest. It comes to rest against a tree at the edge of a ravine, and Steve is knocked unconscious. Thanks to the kids’ quick thinking and Santa Paws’ help, they barely get everyone out in time before the plane plunges off a cliff. With Steve and Patricia injured, Gregory must build a shelter and find wood to start a fire. But when a snowstorm blows in and Steve realizes that planes won’t be able to fly in the bad weather to search for them, he reluctantly sends the kids in search of help. With the heroic Santa Paws forging a path through the deep snow and his trusty nose on the hunt for cars, they all brave the wintry condition and many obstacles, hoping for a Christmas miracle.

I read Santa Paws, the first book, years ago with my kids when they were young, but we never got around to continuing the series. Last year, I decided to reread it and then keep the series on my reading list each year at Christmastime until I finish it. I’m so glad I did, because The Return of Santa Paws was equally as good as the first one. It’s told in third-person POV alternating between Gregory, Patricia, and Santa Paws. As with the first book, I was impressed with the author’s ability to get inside the dog’s mind and figure out what he might be thinking. Of course, he humorously doesn’t understand exactly what’s going on, but he’s always eager to make his humans happy and help and protect them in any way he can. The story is full of action and adventure as Santa Paws, along with Gregory and Patricia, brave the ravages of winter in search of help after the small plane they were traveling on crashes in the wilderness. It’s part survival story, part heartwarming, holiday, family drama, and not to worry, there is a happy ending to the suspenseful narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t imagine that this book wouldn’t entertain kids, especially those who enjoy animal stories or suspenseful, survival stories. Highly recommended for middle grade readers or the young at heart who would like this type of book. show less

Santa Paws, Come Home is the third book in Nicholas Edwards’s Santa Paws series. In this one, our intrepid dog hero’s fame only grows when he tracks down a missing child shortly before Christmas. This puts him on the radar of an unscrupulous person who wants the intelligent canine for themselves and pays a couple of petty thieves to dognap him. After waking up in his abductors’ van, Santa Paws is frightened and disoriented. All he knows is that he must escape their clutches and get show more back home to his family. The only problem is that once he does finally give them the slip, he finds himself in New York City, a strange and scary place far from home. He decides to search for nice people who might help him, only to discover that while the people back home seem to love him, many of the people in this city are either scared of him or don’t like him. Relying on his instincts, he figures out which way to go, and along the way, he does receive assistance from some good people, while providing his special brand of help for others who need him. He also picks up a little friend to keep him company on his long journey. But will they be able to find their way home in time for the Callahans’ Christmas celebration?

I adored the first two books in this series, and this third one was equally as good. It gives off The Incredible Journey vibes as Santa Paws is lost far from home and just trying to find the way back to his family. He manages to find a few kind people who are willing to help him on his journey, as well as a little animal companion. This canine hero also can’t help wanting to help anyone he finds who might be in need, so along the way, he provides assistance for many folks who are awed by his intelligence and grateful that he came along when he did. Of course, back at home, the Callahans are beside themselves with sadness and worry, frantically searching for Santa Paws and hoping against hope that either they’ll find their beloved pup or he’ll somehow return to them before Christmas. I’d say that the bulk of this book is written from Santa Paws’s perspective and I was once again impressed with how well the author manages to get inside a dog’s mind and come up with plausible thought trains for him. The dog is so smart and helpful, this series reminds me of the old Lassie films and TV show, which I loved growing up. I can’t imagine this story and the series as a whole not entertaining kids (or the young at heart) who enjoy animals stories. Overall, this was another fun and heartwarming read that I thoroughly enjoyed. show less

In Santa Paws, Nicholas Edwards (which is actually a pseudonym for Ellen Emerson White) has created an absolutely charming tale of a small homeless puppy who goes around town, saving lives, helping people in need, and spreading Christmas cheer during the holiday season. I loved how the puppy is still able to give love and help the townspeople to feel better, even though he is so very lonely himself after getting lost from his canine family. I found this to be a great object lesson for humans show more in that if we can rise above our own hurts and find the love in our hearts to help others, it might just make us feel better too, not to mention it was a great example of the real meaning of Christmas.

I would say that at least half of the book is written from the dog's point of view, which I thought was very unique and clever. In my opinion, Ms. White did an excellent job of describing how a dog might think and feel. Rather than simply anthropomorphizing the dog as many authors would, she managed to create some realistic actions and thought processes, with him relying on instincts a lot. Sometimes he would have a one track mind about something and others he would entirely forget what his original objective was when something fun and distracting came along. Overall, I was just really impressed with how the author managed to get into the mind of a dog, and make me, on some level, feel what a dog might feel. As I read Santa Paws, I was reminded a great deal of the old Lassie movies and TV shows of which I was a huge fan when I was a kid. Of course, in my experience, dogs who are that smart are few and far between, but they certainly do exist.

Santa Paws was just a very sweet and enjoyable tale that is sure to warm the heart during the holiday season or any time of the year. I highly recommend it for all animal lovers, and for family reading time. Even though the book is geared towards kids, my adult mind was engaged as well. It is the first book in the Santa Paws series. Nicholas Edwards created the series and authored the first six books, but there are others that were written later by Kris Edwards, who is no relation. I'm not sure of the entire story behind the change in authors, but it is my understanding that Ellen Emerson White did not approve of or officially sanction these later Santa Paws books. In any case, I loved this one so much, I am greatly looking forward to reading the other book in the series, at least those authored by Ms. White as Nicholas Edwards. show less

Santa Paws to the Rescue is the fourth book in Nicholas Edwards’s Santa Paws series. This time the Callahan family is staying home in Oceanport for Christmas, but with just a couple of days left to go before the holiday, a major ice storm is being predicted for this small oceanfront town. On the day the storm hits, oldest daughter Patricia is stuck late at school for detention and doesn’t want her parents to know, so she attempts to walk home. Son Gregory is at an away game for his show more basketball team and the bus slides off the road on the way home. Mrs. Callahan goes out after school to get some last-minute gift shopping done, and ends up in an accident in a remote part of town when a tree falls on her car. Meanwhile, Mr. Callahan is at home worrying about his family when they don’t arrive back at the expected time and ends up going out searching for them. Santa Paws senses his concern and begins to worry, too. When another tree falls on their house, breaking a window, Santa Paws, along with his new cat friend, Abigail, also head out in search of their family. Along the way, Santa Paws rescues many other people from perilous circumstances. Even after his family is found and back at home, safe and sounds, Santa Paws continues his quest to make sure everyone in Oceanport who needs help is rescued.

Each book in the Santa Paws series has been a fun adventure and Santa Paws to the Rescue was definitely no exception. Because Santa Paws ends up helping a lot of people, I thought this one was rather reminiscent of the Lassie movies and television show. Santa Paws may be spending this Christmas at home, but when the ice storm hits, there’s no shortage of people to find and rescue. The members of the Callahan family are his first priority, but with his doggie senses constantly alert for danger, he helps many others in need along the way. I like that Abigail, the cat he rescued and brought home in the previous book, Santa Paws, Come Home, accompanies him. Unlike Santa Paws, though, she doesn’t have a hero complex and ends up being a little disdainful of their mission and the cold. She mainly goes along just to annoy him. They make a humorous duo, though, making me chuckle a few times. I think it’s rather cute that everyone in town knows Santa Paws and trusts his instincts. The Callahans have just come to accept that when he runs off, it’s for a good reason and trust him to come back when he’s ready. Whenever he goes to the people in uniform looking for help, they follow him without question. He’s even famous enough that the radio news reports on some of his saves during the storm. All of this might not be entirely realistic, but it does make for an entertaining and festive story. Given that I, as an adult, have enjoyed these books so much, I can’t imagine that the middle-schoolers at which they’re aimed wouldn’t appreciate them, too, especially if they’re partial to adventurous stories with animal characters. I look forward to continuing the series next holiday season. show less