Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo - Revision history

Kieran at 17:11, 29 March 2018

2018-03-29T17:11:02Z

Sue at 08:15, 8 June 2017

2017-06-08T08:15:26Z

Sue at 17:50, 23 January 2015

2015-01-23T17:50:29Z

Sue at 14:11, 3 December 2012

2012-12-03T14:11:55Z

Keith at 09:27, 7 November 2009

2009-11-07T09:27:21Z

Keith: 1 revision

2009-10-24T17:48:10Z

1 revision

Sue at 16:22, 26 July 2008

2008-07-26T16:22:16Z

New review

{{infobox
|title=Great Joy
|author=Kate DiCamillo
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A story about giving and sharing at Christmas accompanied by some sumptuous illustrations make this a stunning book. Highly recommended.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardback
|pages=40
|publisher=Walker Books Ltd
|date=5 Nov 2007
|isbn=978-1406310832
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406310832</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0763629200</amazonus>
}}
In the week before Christmas an organ grinder and a monkey appeared on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Vine Street in New York. The organ grinder played music for the passers-by. From her apartment window Frances watched the monkey offering a tin cup to people in the hope that they would give a few cents. If the traffic was quiet she could hear the sad, far-away music. Frances wondered where they went at night - '' ... somewhere'' her mother said. ''Everyone goes somewhere.''

But that night Frances made herself stay awake and at midnight she crept into the living room. Looking out of the window she saw the organ grinder huddled against the wall with the monkey inside his coat. The man looked up and raised his cap to her. The next day Frances suggested that they could come for dinner, but her mother refused. ''They're strangers, that's why.''

It's the day of Frances' Christmas play and as she and her mother walk to the church they pass the organ grinder and the little girl invites the man and his monkey to come to the play. She has just one line to speak but is unable to say anything as her thoughts are with the man and his monkey out in the cold and the snow. The silence continues until the door at the back of the church opens and in walks the organ grinder with his monkey. Frances smiles.

''Behold!'' she shouts. ''I bring you tidings of Great Joy!''

I often despair of Christmas books for children. They're usually either cheesily sentimental or about what the individual can get out of the festival in the way of presents. If you are not religious it is difficult to find a book which has a worthwhile message that you would want to give to a young child. ''Great Joy'' never mentions presents, or parties or over-indulgence. The message is a simple one: there are those who are homeless, who are less fortunate than ourselves, and we should not forget them, but it's told in a way that any child can appreciate. It's a simple tale, beautifully told.

What makes this book extra special is the artwork of Bagram Ibatoulline. It took my breath away. The story is set in New York in the middle of the last century and it's captured perfectly with the snowy damp conditions outside, or inside, there's the picture of the father who would appear to be away on military service. It's Frances who steals the show though. I found myself gazing at a picture of her, just for the pleasure of looking at her hair. I think I could have counted every strand - such is the detail in these illustrations. They are superb and turn a good story into something luminous.

I've read the book through several times now and it touches me every time with its glorious pictures and simple message that Christmas is a time for giving and for sharing. I'd like to thank the Publishers for sending this book to the Bookbag.

This will be the sort of book that a child will treasure. Its message is not specifically about Christmas and I think it will be returned to again and again, finally moving off the best-loved shelf by the age of about nine or ten. For another book that will stand the test of time and has an equally sumptuous presentation the Bookbag can recommend [[The Thousand Nights and One Night]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1406310832}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=5950163}}
{{commenthead}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:15, 8 June 2017
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-{{infobox
+{{infobox2
 |title=Great Joy
 |author=Kate DiCamillo
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 |date=November 2007
 |isbn=978-1406310832
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406310832</amazonuk>
+|aznuk=1406310832
-|amazonus=<amazonus>0763629200</amazonus>
+|aznus=0763629200
 }}
 In the week before Christmas an organ grinder and a monkey appeared on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Vine Street in New York. The organ grinder played music for the passers-by. From her apartment window Frances watched the monkey offering a tin cup to people in the hope that they would give a few cents. If the traffic was quiet she could hear the sad, far-away music. Frances wondered where they went at night - '' ... somewhere'' her mother said. ''Everyone goes somewhere.''

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |buy=Yes
 |borrow=Yes
 |pages=40
 |publisher=Walker Books Ltd
@@ Line 32: / Line 31: @@
 This will be the sort of book that a child will treasure. Its message is not specifically about Christmas and I think it will be returned to again and again, finally moving off the best-loved shelf by the age of about nine or ten. For another book that will stand the test of time and has an equally sumptuous presentation the Bookbag can recommend [[The Thousand Nights and One Night]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=1406310832}}  {{waterstonestext|waterstones=5950163}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=1406310832}}
 {{commenthead}}

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:48, 24 October 2009
(No difference)