The Two Claus is a children's novel by Peruvian author María Fe Castro Rey^[1]. It was published under the Penguin Kids label by Penguin Random House in November 2024 in Lima and was presented at the Ricardo Palma Book Fair^[2]. In just three weeks, The Two Claus became the best-selling children's book of the year in Peru and was the second best-selling book of 2024 across all categories. The novel is part of the Navidad Sur^[3] movement, an effort to create new Christmas symbols for the Southern Hemisphere^[4], where December arrives with summer.

Due to the success of the first edition of The Two Claus, Penguin Random House decided to publish the novel across Latin America in November 2025, as well as in the United States for the Hispanic readership. Additionally, in the same month, The Two Claus: The Beginning, a prequel expanding on the story of the first installment, will be launched in Lima.

The Two Claus follows the story of Betty Cook, a New York girl passionate about photography, who faces her first Christmas without her grandfather, her greatest mentor. Forced to spend the holidays in Cusco due to her mother's work, Betty discovers an unknown Christmas tradition: Tayta Claus, Santa Claus's brother, who is responsible for bringing magic to the Southern Hemisphere. Along with Vicente, a local boy, Betty embarks on a fantastic adventure as she discovers the magical world of the mukis beneath Machu Picchu, whose energy keeps Christmas alive^[5]. When an archaeological excavation led by her mother threatens to reveal this secret, Betty and Vicente must protect it to save the Christmas magic. The story explores themes of grief, friendship, cultural diversity, and the power of imagination, blending the charm of Christmas with the richness of Andean tradition.

As part of the Christmas South project, The Two Claus is a socially impactful novel. 100% of the royalties generated by the first edition were donated to Make a Wish - Peru. Make a Wish allocated the funds to fulfill the wishes of children facing serious illnesses. Additionally, each of the more than 500 children enrolled in the foundation's program received a copy of the novel.

In November 2024, Variety magazine reported^[6] the acquisition of film rights for The Two Claus by Hangtime International Pictures, a production company led by Frida Torresblanco, producer of films like Pan's Labyrinth, whose work has received three Academy Awards, three BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe. Pre-production is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

Along with the release of The Two Claus, two musical works inspired by the novel were presented. Peruvian actress and singer Anahí de Cárdenas composed the Christmas carol In the South and performed it for the first time on November 23, 2024, before thousands of people at the Larcomar shopping center in Lima. Additionally, Renzo Cheesman, a Peruvian composer based in Los Angeles, created Navidad Sur, an instrumental piece that blends traditional southern music with the classic soundtracks that accompany Christmas in the North.

In December 2024, under the direction of Luciana León Barandiarán, a small cast of actors performed the first theatrical adaptation of The Two Claus at the Jockey Plaza shopping center.

In August 2024, Peruvian company Grupo Gloria acquired the licensing rights for The Two Claus characters. In mid-December 2024, the first animated version of the story was presented at Parque de las Leyendas through an immersive experience with giant screens showcasing a short film inspired by the novel.