Great Joy

Celebrated children's novelist Kate DiCamillo, who won a Newbery Medal in 2004 for The Tale of Despereaux, turns here to the picture-book, spinning a lovely Christmas tale that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. As young Frances and her mother prepare for the upcoming Christmas pageant at church, the young girl finds herself drawn to the melancholy organ grinder who shows up, together with his red-capped monkey, on the corner across from her city apartment one day. Questioning her mother about the man, and where he and his monkey sleep at night, she is met with evasive non-answers. Waking up late one night, and spying the man and his monkey huddling on the corner, she realizes that they have no home. Distressed and concerned, show more she asks her mother if they can have the man to dinner, only to be told that strangers can't be invited into the home. Passing the man on the way to church, Frances has an inspired idea, realizing that there is one place where she can invite strangers to enter...

With a moving story, one that perfectly blends the wonder of the Christmas season, as seen through the eyes of a child, with the more adult realities of want and sorrow, and beautiful illustrations that capture the light and darkness in the story, Great Joy is a book that seems to move effortlessly toward its heartfelt conclusion. I appreciated the emotional honesty here - the depiction of Frances' concern, the fact that Frances' mother doesn't have the answers or solutions that she is looking for, the reality that, despite including the organ grinder in the Christmas celebration, his situation hasn't changed by the end of the story - and enjoyed the historical setting (it looks to be the 1930s or 1940s). The artwork is simply breathtaking, with a soft sensibility that works very well, particularly in some of the more shadowy scenes. I think this would make an excellent introduction to the topic of homelessness and hunger, or of social inclusion, for some young children. The open-ended conclusion - we never really find out what happens to the organ grinder after the pageant - lends itself naturally to discussion, and raises questions such as: what more (if anything) should Frances, her mother, and the church community do, to help the organ grinder? Just a lovely, lovely story, one that gets at the heart of the true spirit of Christmas, in the shape of our love for our fellow human beings. show less

The combination of a Christmas story of homelessness, a little girl who is concerned, and the inclusion and safety of a church, lends to an incredible tale, rich in meaning and significance at this time of year. With the added lush, rich, incredible illustrations of Bagram Ibatoulline this is my favorite illustrated book of 2014.

When a little girl notices a lonely organ grinder and his monkey standing on the street corner during a very cold day, she cannot help but wonder what happens to them during the night. Purposely staying awake, she waits and watches in the dark as she sees them alone, cold and sad.

Asking her mother what will happen to them provides frustration as she is consumed with day-to-day tasks. The setting appears to be show more WWII and there is an unspoken, but implied sense that the father is absent, perhaps away at war.

When her mother prepares her costume for the Christmas Eve pageant, the young girl once again worries about the man and his monkey in the cold of winter. Dropping a coin into the cup of the monkey, she invites the organ grinder to attend church that evening.

Hopeful that the organ grinder will come to church to see her read her biblical lines regarding the birth of Jesus who will bring great joy, she finds she cannot say her words until she sees the door open and the organ grinder enter the church.

The organ grinder is welcomed after the service and for this shining night he is happy. In a mere 32 pages, the author raises many issues. The ending is unclear and we are left to wonder what happens after that Christmas Eve night. So often, we reach out to others over the holidays, forgetting the needs still unmet for the remainder of the year. So often, in our haste and daily wear and tear, we have little energy for others. It is through the eyes of a sensitive child, that the story comes to life. It is her compassion and questioning, that lives are touched, if only for one evening filled with meaning and joy. show less

This is one of the most beautiful picture books I've ever seen. Just published in 2007, I think it's destined to become a treasured family classic that children and their parents will want to return to each Christmas season.

Written by Newbery award winning Kate Dicamillo and illustrated by the talented Bagram Ibatoulline, *Great Joy* tells the story of a young girl named Frances who is anticipating (with great joy!) her small part in her church's annual Christmas pageant. The story is set in the 1940s (a fact not mentioned in the text, but evident from the illustrations). Frances and her mother often see an organ grinder and his monkey on the corner, and Frances, with the curiosity of many young children, wonders where the man and his show more monkey go at night when it's cold. Her concern for their welfare translates into an invitation to them to come to the pageant.

This is a poignant and beautiful book, from the golden end papers to the light-filled illustrations. Both story and text gently evoke the longings and hopes of the Christmas season, and show how joyful the good news of that season is when it's truly proclaimed to all. A great family read-aloud. show less

This is a wonderful newer picture book for Christmas sharing with a young person of your choice. Either the text or pictures could stand on their own, but together they make one of the best of this genre. The theme is the inclusion of the marginalized, a very appropriate one for Christmas and one that I found in DiCamillo's other book I've read, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The book is set during World War II, as one can tell from the pictures (and, truly, when did you last see an organ-grinder with a monkey?) So, there is a lot to talk about in the pictures besides the story itself. I would highly recommend this book.

A nearly perfect Christmas book. If only we celebrated this way year round. And listened to our children, and obeyed the lessons we teach them.

PSC review: The Spanish translation of Great Joy conveys the same lovely language of the original. One infers from the illustrations that this story takes place during the Depression in a large city like New York City. Looking down from the apartment window Francis sees an organ grinder and his monkey day after day. She wonders where he sleeps at night, and discovers it is right there on the corner. Mother won’t let him come to dinner but despite this Francis invites him to the church Nativity pageant. Just as Francis is to say “Behold! I bring you tidings of great joy” she forgets her line. As she looks at the silent audience the doors open and in comes the organ grinder. Remembering her line, she shouts it out. Ibatoulline’s show more pictures alone make this story worth the purchase. His soft gold tinged acrylic gouache paintings tell the story without words. With the DiCamillo’s words along with the illustrations, the story soars. show less

Text and illustrations pack a gentle emotional punch; very evocative of the era and a beautiful story.