A Christmas Carol (Books of Wonder)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688136060 ISBN 13: 9780688136062

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1996

Afterword by Peter Glassman. Here is the condensed version of the holiday classic, as edited by Dickens himself for his many public readings. This delightful version, streamlined for maximum dramatic effect yet retaining all the unforgettable moments, features twenty-one magnificent color pictures by the celebrated New Yorker artist. A Books of Wonder Classic.

About the Author:

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of England's greatest writers. Best known for his classic serialized novels, such as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, Dickens wrote about the London he lived in, the conditions of the poor, and the growing tensions between the classes. He achieved critical and popular international success in his lifetime and was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey.

Review:

Gr 3 Up. With over 28 different editions of A Christmas Carol in print, it is difficult to make a case for yet another one. This effort, described in the afterword as one in which Dickens himself made all the edits, is far shorter than the versions illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger or Michael Foreman. Its manageable, read-aloud length and shimmering watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations make it an attractive package. The various ghosts are spectral with shimmering chains; innocent and filled with light; huge and rippling; or skeletal limbs and flowing veils, sending forth a greenish aura of death itself. The party scenes are more haunting than merry, the few splashes of color muted by the ever-present golden-brown hues. Goodrich makes effective use of light and color to create this haunting version; the appealing artwork as well as the compact length are solid reasons to add this newest incarnation of the classic story to holiday collections. -- School Library Journal, 10/96