Nicholas Edwards

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 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.… (meer)

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 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.… (meer)