Is there a book you'd really love for me to read on the Sleepy Bookshelf?

Well you can go to our website, sleepybookshelf.com, to submit your ideas and vote on upcoming books.

Good evening and welcome to the sleepy big shelf where we put down our worries from the day

and pick up a good book. I'm Elizabeth, your host. Thank you so much for coming this evening.

Tonight we are continuing with the life and adventures of Santa Claus.

But before we do that, let's take a moment to get comfortable and ready to relax.

Take a nice, big stretch, releasing any physical tension in your body and allowing yourself to feel heavy.

Today is behind you and you deserve a good night's rest.

Take a deep breath in, collecting any worries or concerns, and now exhale, letting them all go. Let's do that again.

Inhale and exhale.

Wonderful.

Last time, Klaus had walked for miles around to the villages nearby the Laughing Valley,

and he met and befriended the families there.

The parents loved that their children had a trusted companion to care for and play with them,

and the children adored having a grown-up to be part of their games.

When the winter snows set in, Klaus knew his visits would be few and far between,

as the drifts would be too deep to navigate.

He sat at home with his cat, Blinky, and began to whittle a piece of firewood in the shape of his feline friend.

When he was disturbed by a wailing sound outside in the blizzard, when he investigated, he found a child buried in the snow nearby and brought him in to warm him.

The little boy loved the wooden cat and asked to take it home.

So in the morning, Klaus carried the boy on his shoulders with the wooden cat back to his relieved mother.

This set the wheels in motion for Klaus, who saw an opportunity to brighten the lives of children with these little wooden cats.

...