Christmas stories have their own rhythm.
They belong to quiet evenings, soft lights, and moments when people are ready to slow down and listen. My story, The Man in the Moon and Santa’s List, arrived on Amazon on Christmas Day — just a little too late to find its moment.
That doesn’t make it any less meaningful.
Rather than tuck it away until next year, I wanted to share the opening chapter here as a small invitation into the world of the story.
This is a gentle Christmas chapter book for children aged 7–9, about quiet kindness, trying your best, and adults who understand the difference between breaking rules and doing the right thing.
Below is the first chapter.
Chapter One — Santa Has a Bit of a Think
Santa Claus was very busy.
That was hardly surprising. Santa was always busy in December. The workshop hummed and clattered, elves zoomed past carrying boxes twice their size, and someone (probably Jingle-Toes) was practising the tuba again, even though Santa had politely asked him not to.
Santa sat at his desk, which was completely covered in paper.
There were lists on top of lists, and lists poking out from underneath other lists. One very long scroll had slipped off the desk entirely and was now winding its way across the floor like a tired paper snake.
The Naughty and Nice List.
Santa adjusted his round spectacles and leaned closer.
“Well now,” he said, scratching his beard. “That’s curious.”
He rolled the scroll up. Then he rolled it down again. Then he rolled it up once more, just in case it had changed its mind.
It hadn’t.
There were rather a lot of names under Naughty.
Santa tapped the list with his pen. He knew children weren’t perfect. They forgot to tidy, they argued over toys, and sometimes they said things they didn’t quite mean. But naughty? Most children were doing their best — even on the wobbly days.
Santa leaned back in his chair, which gave a thoughtful creak, and gazed up at the ceiling.
“I make the toys,” he said aloud. “I read the letters. I feed the reindeer. But I can’t possibly watch everyone all the time.”
Just then, something bright caught his eye.
Santa stood and wandered over to the window. Outside, the snow sparkled like sugar, and hanging high in the sky was the moon — round, glowing, and looking very pleased with itself.
Santa smiled.
“Of course,” he said. “Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”
He cleared his throat — not loudly, but politely — and called out into the night.
“Good evening, Man in the Moon!”
Up above, the Man in the Moon paused mid-watch. He had been keeping an eye on rooftops, bedtime stories, and the last lights going out for the night.
“Yes?” he replied, his voice drifting down like a soft beam of silver light.
Santa nodded happily.
“I wonder,” he said, “if you might help me with something rather important.”
And high above the Earth, the Man in the Moon leaned closer, ready to listen.
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