Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline is a very simple Christmas story. Set during World War II, times are hard for everybody. Even Frances’ father is not at home, he’s serving his country. Frances likes to watch an organ grinder and a monkey from her window as he plays to passerby’s. She learns that he even spends his nights on the street and he’s all she can think about. When she asks her mother, if he can come in for dinner, she (of course) says no. On their way to a Christmas pageant where Frances has a speaking line as an angel, she invites the organ grinder and his monkey to the show, much to the chagrin of her mother. But as she gets on stage, she searches the auditorium in vain for him and as a result doesn’t say her line. But when the door in the back opens and he comes in she shouts, “Behold! I bring you tidings of Great Joy!”
Great Joy illustrates the great compassion that children have for others and how as adults we sometimes hold that back. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline were beautiful. The sense of light in the city during Christmas time was perfect. Overall, I enjoyed this Christmas story but I’m not sure it’s one I’d want to add to my permanent collection.
Kate DiCamillo website.
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Tags: A-D Author, Christmas, E-H Title, female author, Fiction, holidays, war, World War II
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This seems sweet. Why wouldn’t you add it to your permanent collection?
on December 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pmYeah, I probably should have put more thought in the review about why I wouldn’t but I really couldn’t say. I guess I wasn’t gushing over it. And you know the price of hardcover picture books, $15-$20. I guess I couldn’t justify it.
on December 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 pmI’ll add this to my list and see if the library has it. I sure did like Despereaux by the same author.
on December 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pmIt sounds like a lovely story.
on December 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pmI’m the same way, Natasha. I was at a loss of words about this one. I loved your review because it said the things I couldn’t properly phrase, but like you, I’m not sure I’d seek this one out to own it. It just feels like it stops all of a sudden. At least that’s my perception, I was wanting more of something…I don’t know what…I just felt it was abrupt. But I just love the illustrations.
on December 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 pmIt did end really abrupt. In the last picture panel I was looking for the organ grinder and couldn’t find him. Just the monkey. But yeah, it was okay to read but I don’t think I’d buy it.
on December 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm