Miracle On 34th Street by Valentine Davies

This heartwarming classic is the story of a skeptical girl, her disillusioned mother, and a mysterious man who believes he is the real Santa Claus. But it is so much more.

Kris Kringle acts and looks so much like Santa that he believes he is the jolly old gentleman. It's a harmless delusion, but despite passing every cognitive test, he is evicted from his senior home as incompetent. In New York City, he finds the Macy's Christmas Parade underway and is shocked to see their 'Santa' drunk. Personnel Director Doris Walker is also upset—it's always hard to keep reliable 'Santas.' Seeing Kris, she begs him to ride in the parade, and he is such a hit they offer him a job as Santa in the toy department. If a child asks for a toy Macy's is out of, he helpfully tells the parent where else they can buy it. Macy's discovers goodwill spreading throughout the city and proclaims itself the store with real Christmas spirit. Soon, retailers across the country follow suit.

Doris's skeptical six-year-old daughter, Susan, knows Santa isn't real—her mother told her so. 'Uncle' Fred Gayley is Doris's beau, keen to help Kris change Susan's mind and perhaps win Doris's hand. Kris encourages Susan to play, and secretly wish—if he is real—Santa will make her one Christmas wish come true. Meanwhile, those who believe Kris is actually a danger—as there is no such person as Santa—subject him to a public hearing, and lawyer Fred has the chance to prove to the world he is the one and only before they commit him to the city hospital on Christmas Eve.

Valentine Davies won an Academy Award for writing the story of the beloved 1947 film starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and a young Natalie Wood as Susan. This novelization, rather than increasing the backstories, streamlines them for all ages.

Miracle on 34th Street has been filmed for TV three times, remade in 1994, and turned into a Broadway musical called Here's Love.

A quick read and as charming as you would hope it to be.

1947 / Paperback / 128 pages