Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

First sentence: Christmas was coming and it was coming fast. It was coming to the town where the houses huddled with their cozy windows shining in the winter dusk. It was coming to the country where snow lay drifted up against the barns and the firewood was all stacked beside the houses. And it was coming to the river and the little run-down place where Emmet Otter and his mother lived, near Frogtown Hollow. Christmas was coming, and money was more scarce than ever.

Premise/plot: Emmet Otter desperately wants to buy a store bought present for his Ma. Ma Otter desperately wants to buy a store bought present for her son. Both realize that it's an almost impossible dream. Money is not to be had. Ma depends on doing the washing--in her show more washtub--to bring in a bit of money. Emmet depends on his odd jobs--thanks to the toolbox his father left him. Not a spare penny to be found. But when the town has a talent show with a prize of fifty dollars, both must decide if it's time to risk it all for a dream.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love crazy-love the Muppet adaptation of Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas. I do think the ADAPTATION is better. Or perhaps it is just more familiar. The adaptation gives us music, songs, lyrics. The book gives us song titles and a small fraction of the lyrics. And the two don't really have much of a connection except for one or two song titles that are *almost* the same. Still, this one is an enjoyable, cozy read. It's just not quite as magical as the adaptation. show less

Russell and Lillian Hoban, the author/illustrator team behind that classic early reader series devoted to the doings of Frances the Badger, here turn their attention to Christmas, spinning the tale of Emmet Otter and his mother, a hardworking washer woman. With father and husband gone, the pair eke out a living in Frogtown Hollow, but find that the year just past has been harder than most. Each wants to give the other a beautiful Christmas present, but isn't sure how it can be accomplished. Then they learn of the fifty dollars prize money being offered for the winner of the talent show being put on by the Merchant's Association, and each vows that they will enter...

Having greatly enjoyed this duo's previous Christmas story, The Mole show more Family's Christmas, I was eager to pick up Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. Unfortunately, although I did find it engaging, it was a little sadder than that other tale, which is not unreasonable given the poverty experienced by Emmet and his mother, but which made it a little too melancholy for my taste this holiday season, despite the happy ending. Apparently this story was made into a film by Jim Henson, but unlike so many other reviewers, I never saw it, so I approached it with no preconceptions. I did see some parallels with O. Henry's classic story, The Gift of the Magi, in which two people sacrificed their most prized possession to buy the other a Christmas present, although tellingly, given the Hoban's sense of humor, here what is sacrificed is the other person's possession! Recommended to fans of the Hobans, fans of the film, and anyone seeking children's Christmas stories addressing the realities of poverty. show less

#1226 in our old book database. Rated: Indifferent.

My wife loves this book and the Jim Henson adaptation, and I've tried it a couple times now, but I just don't get what she sees. It's almost an interesting tribute to "The Gift of the Magi" but the gift exchange is darker, with the present recipient's property being gambled instead of the present giver's. The mother and son characters are very flat and the story gets wordy at times as they both have to hear about the talent show separately and make their own plans for entering.

Sorry, honey, I just gotta be a Scrooge on this one. Bah, humbug!

Inspired by the classic tale "The Gift of the Magi," the story begins in a poor country cottage, as Emmet Otter dreams of buying Ma a piano for Christmas, while Ma dreams of buying Emmet a guitar. When a village talent contest is announced, both imagine their dreams coming true. But what they don't imagine finding is their real reward -- the power of love, family, and hope in hard times.

I dunno. It's sweet, but I guess I'm just feeling too cynical this year for Christmas stories. And to think they miss the dad, an admitted snake-oil salesman. I'm sorry, but by definition he's a bad guy. That's a theme too complex for the rest of the story, imo.

I do like the little bit where mother & son leave notes for each other at the same time, and neither sees them - funny. Not for tots - long, with sad bits. But there's a happy ending that is almost plausible.

Btw, it's *not* a retelling of O'Henry's Gift of the Magi!! In that story each character made an ultimate *personal* sacrifice - in this story Ma sold Emmet's toolbox, and Emmet ruined Ma's washtub - if there weren't a happy ending, they would have been screwed. O'Henry's show more characters would have been saddened. Whole different theme! show less

The plot has something in common with O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, but with enough twists that it is much more than just a "children's version". Family, friends, music -- and the story is all about animals who live in a swamp. It's a story with a message that is never heavy-handed.

I didn't know the beloved TV special was based on a book. The book is beautifully illustrated, too.