I’ve started reading aloud  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens using the beautifully illustrated version above. This version is illustrated by Robert Ingpen, an Australian artist. We have a number of books illustrated by Ingpen, all quite different in subject matter from one another, and yet again he demonstrates his skill with the magnificent job he does in capturing the feel of Dickens’ world in this lovely book.

 

 

 

 

 

Silent Night: The Song and its Story by Margaret Hodges; illustrated by Tim Ludwig

 

 

A warm and touching book which tells how the hymn, Silent Night, came to be written in Austria in 1818; how it spread from country to country and the original composers, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber were forgotten for a time. The book follows the hymn through the years to Christmas 1914 when, during a truce at Christmas, the German soldiers began to sing the carol from the trenches and were joined by British voices from across no-man’s-land…and into a Russian prison camp during the same war…and even to the Korean War.
This book would appeal to a range of ages. The words of the hymn, piano music & chords are included.

 

 

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

 

 

Great Joy uses the story of a young girl, Frances, whose heart goes out to a poor organ grinder and his monkey out in the cold in the week before Christmas, to awaken compassion and the message of joy that Christmas brings. Set in the 1940’s, the illustrations are large and have a lovely softness.
When the time comes for Frances to say her lines at the Christmas pageant, all she can do is think about the poor man and the monkey out on the streets but the gift of compassion within her rises and gives voice to the message of Christmas at the time when it is needed.

 

 

Kate DiCamillo said that this book began for her with the image of an organ grinder playing music in the depth and darkness of winter and that this music led her to the heart of the story:

“In a dark time, doors will sometimes magically open and let us step inside to the warmth and light of a community.”

The book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.