Santa Claus is never at a loss as to what to give as a gift. And this year, neither is Lancastrian Grover C. Gouker, who bills himself as "The Real Corresponding Santa Claus."
No doubt he'll be presenting his adult friends his new 153-page hardcover memoir, "My Santamental Journey: A Genuine Santa's 58-Year 'Children's Ministry.' "
His young friends will get his 29-page hardcover picture book, "I Don't Want No Soap! The Shortest Letter Santa Ever Got!" illustrated by J. Holly Clarkson.
Gouker's hoping others take a page from his books, as it were, and give them as Christmas presents too.
The semiretired motivational speaker was a postal worker in Hanover when he noticed that children's letters to Santa were being discarded. He received permission from the post master to answer those letters, and that's the basis for both books.
His memoir quotes from many children's letters and photographically reproduces some of them, along with a few children's drawings.
Nearly every letter has a back story that Gouker illuminates. Usually they are funny or endearing ("Instead of a baby brother I'd rather have a baby bird. Will you talk to my mommy about this?"). But sometimes they are sad and involve serious illnesses, their own acknowledged behavior problems, and the pain of absent or battling parents ("One thing I want is some peace between Mom and Dad.").
In some cases, Gouker tracked down the parents of his little correspondents to check on the meaning of some of their messages and make sure he was giving the best response. This father of two daughters and grandfather includes a few of his sensitive, sympathetic replies.
He notes that the children "send me their lists, but more importantly they tell me what's on their minds." Anyone who has children or remembers being a child will have a hard time closing the cover on this book, with all its lovable little "characters."
Gouker's children's book, based on one particular letter, is more determinedly jovial.
"I don't want no soap," was the extent of 3-year-old Scott's missive. But out of it Gouker spins a tale about how much everyone at the North Pole loves everything related to baths and bubbles.
"I guess you know what Scott had in mind. If he didn't get 'no soap,' he would not have to take 'no baths.' Of course, my compassion went out to his parents. I wrote back and said, 'Oh, yes, you're getting soap, Scott. Everybody gets soap. Even Rudolph gets soap.' So I figured I made some points with Scott's parents. I'm sure they were saying, 'Right on, Santa.' "
The author later says, "I often wonder where Scott is today. Perhaps he is in college studying English grammar."
The author will sign his books 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Borders Book Shop, 940 Plaza Blvd. The memoir is $24.95, the picture book $14.95; a two-book gift pack is $34.95. For more information, log onto www.santaanswers.com.
Books are also available at Berean Christian Store, 1625 Lititz Pike.
Jo-Ann Greene is editor of the books section. Her e-mail address is jgreene@lnpnews.com.
