THE REAL SANTA CLAUS

In this worthy companion to her other works about religious figures, Mayer (Young Jesus of Nazareth) uses several brief stories to introduce the fourth-century orphan boy turned miracle-working bishop who inspired the modern holiday image of Santa Claus/Father Christmas. Masterpieces from European museums and churches illustrate scenes from the saint's life; laid out on pages framed and accented with gold paint, they create a setting far more elegant and reverent than the nostalgic cover art would suggest. Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" opens the volume on a festive and familiar note. All ages. (Sept.)