Sinterklaas Station Publishing House

How We Got Our Name

I have wonderful childhood memories of Christmas. The week before Christmas Eve, my dad and I would start the usually brisk New York day hunting for a full and robust fir tree that could be emblazoned with bright colored lights, beautiful ornaments, and dazzling strings of tinsel icicles. During the "hunt," we would stop for a mid-morning cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmellows and whipped cream at a local lunchenette. If it took us beyond noontime to find the perfect tree, another stop for a hearty lunch was in order.

That very evening, dad would set the tree in its base and meticulously adjust it until it was vertically strait in all directions 360° around the center of its trunk. Then we would all decorate the tree while snacking on finger foods and sipping Cola-Cola.

My favorite part of Christmas Eve was when mom sat me and my sister down in front of the lighted tinsel-glistening shrine and read the classic holiday story 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (see photo inset of book cover in the right sidebar panel) while dad roasted marshmellows on a skewer over a fire in the hearth. It was a wonderful book with a magical story that my sister and I treasured and loved for many years during our childhood.

When I decided to enter into the children's book publishing business, I reminisced about that story that was written 200 years ago (1823); I wondered if there ever really was a Santa Claus. I did my homework and, much to my amazement, that's when I discovered Sinterklaas (other variations on the name are Sinterklaos, De Sint, and St. Nicholas). After reading about this very real and unselfish child-loving philanthropist, I knew what I would name my publishing house: Sinterklaas Station

Although Sinterklaas Station publishes only one Christmas picture book—our other children's books cover many other topics—our goal is to produce high-quality books that children will love and cherish as much as they relish the excitement of Christmas. For information about our flagship book—the first book that helped launch the Sinterklaas Station publishing house, click on the book titled Mrs. Claus Reveals Santa's Secrets in the bookstore.

Read more of our interesting and entertaining Christmas stories about the real Sinterklaas, the Gnome Conundrum (conundrum means mystery), and the New York Sun Editorial, and learn more about Santa Claus by clicking on the gold links located in the right sidebar panel.

Happy Reading!
Engineer Bob, Publisher and Owner
Sinterklaas Station Publishing House