Jim Mauro didn’t plan to write a children’s book. He wanted to leave something meaningful for his grandson.
“I wanted to leave something for him that demonstrated how much he is loved, in case I was not around to tell him,” Mauro says.
That wish led to The First Santa Claus: A Magical Beginning, a book that offers a new take on Santa’s origins and helps fund autism programs for children and families in Thunder Bay. The story is built on kindness, imagination, and inclusion.
Christmas has always meant a lot to Mauro. He jokes that he would start decorating in May if his wife, Anne, agreed. Over time, he became interested not just in Santa’s magic, but in the questions behind it — how Santa visits everyone in one night, how all the toys fit in a sleigh, and how he could still be around after so many years.
Those questions stayed in the back of his mind until life made them more important.
When his grandson Carter was born, and after Mauro’s own medical diagnosis a few years earlier, he started to see things more clearly. Knowing that nothing in life is certain, he thought about what he could leave behind — something lasting, especially since he has few memories of his own grandparents. Mauro wanted Carter to have something real to remember him by, even if he couldn’t always be there himself. He hopes that one day, Carter will look back on the book as a reminder of their bond and the love behind it.
While in a Toronto hospital room, encouragement from his cousin Kim inspired Mauro to write the first draft in just two hours.
“Writing it was the easy part,” he says. “Editing it to be both easy for children while keeping a theme and story that could also entertain adults was challenging.”
As the story grew, it became very personal. Carter was diagnosed with autism before he turned three. Instead of treating that as something to hide or avoid, Mauro made it a central part of the book. He decided that every Santa should share something in common—and wondered why autism couldn’t be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
“What may be considered by some as an obstacle is in fact part of the superpower,” Mauro says.
Family experiences shaped Mauro’s view. He has seen loved ones face physical and mental challenges, including a cousin who strongly pushed for his daughter to be included when others were unsure. By making sure she was treated as part of the community, he saw her grow up with connection, dignity, and care. It showed him that acceptance can truly change lives.
These experiences led Mauro to donate all the book’s proceeds to autism programs in Thunder Bay. Carter has already received help from local programs, and Mauro has seen for himself how important early support can be.
“It has been shocking to see how many kids and young adults need the support these programs provide,” he says.
In Carter’s few years, Mauro has seen how raising a child really takes a community. He is grateful for the care Carter receives at Ogden School and always mentions his support worker, Alexis “Lexi” Kruger.
“She is remarkable,” Mauro says. Others have described her as the best they’ve ever seen working with children who have special needs. “That assessment is bang on.”
For Mauro, autism advocacy is both urgent and practical. He believes early diagnosis and support are key — not just for a better life now, but for long-term independence and stability.
“The earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes,” he says. He adds that investing in support now can lower costs and hardship later, and give families, especially single parents, a better future.
At its heart, The First Santa Claus is about the magic people can create. While many Santa stories are full of fantasy, Mauro wanted to show what people can do when kindness, imagination, and love come first.
“To me, he represents everything good about us,” Mauro says of Santa. “Unwavering love of children, the message of kindness, acceptance for people for who they are, and the willingness to sacrifice time to bring joy around the world. I think we can all use a little more Santa and a little less anger.”
That idea matches how Mauro sees Christmas. It’s still his favourite season, a time when people slow down enough to really notice each other. He sees less rushing, more generosity, and a shared spirit of giving — and as the years go by and he realizes there may not be endless Christmases ahead, the season means even more to him.
If he had to sum up the true spirit of Christmas in one message, Mauro doesn’t hesitate.
Love for others.
Since the book came out, the community’s response has been more than Mauro ever expected. Most first-time self-published authors sell around 250 copies, but The First Santa Claus is approaching 750 copies sold. Unions, organizations, friends, and strangers have all helped — some bought in bulk, others donated without taking a book. Tammy Husilik and The Thunder Bay Country Market Board allowed him to sell at the Farmer’s Market, and even small acts of kindness have made a big impact.
One moment stands out for Mauro. A family from Britain stopped at his table, and their young son, Henry, acted a lot like Carter. Mauro and his family gave Henry a book. Later, his mother came back and said Henry likely had autism, but support at home was limited and confusing. They talked for ten minutes, sharing experiences and advice. A few days later, Mauro saw them again by chance.
“Seeing the pain on the mother’s face at not knowing what to do to help her son has stuck with me,” he says.
Looking ahead, Mauro wants to turn Carter’s story into a series. He’s already written another book for next Christmas, with an even bigger focus on autism.
For now, Mauro measures success simply. Carter looks at the book and calls it “my book.” He knows it’s about him, even if he doesn’t understand everything yet. That will come with time.
Mauro’s hope for every child who reads The First Santa Claus is simple and strong: “That they are seen, that they are accepted for who they are, and that nothing is beyond their reach, that they can have a full and enjoyable life.”
As the holidays approach, Mauro’s message to Thunder Bay families is to focus less on perfection and more on presence. He encourages everyone to slow down, notice the people around them, enjoy the small moments, and hold onto the memories that last long after the decorations are put away.
The First Santa Claus: A Magical Beginning may look like just a children’s book, but at its core, it’s a reminder. It shows that kindness still matters, that acceptance can change lives, and that community can help families through tough times. Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts aren’t wrapped at all.
For Mauro, the book is a love letter to his grandson. For Thunder Bay, it has become something bigger: a shared act of generosity, a sign of the community’s care, and a quiet example of what the season can be when people come first.
That, perhaps, is the real magic of Christmas.
