Book Ende

I'm always looking for new Christmas books, books that cut through the haze of cartoon illustrations, presents, and heavy handed saccharine endings. I picked this up at the bookstore a few years ago mostly because I haven't found a book by Kate DiCamillo or a drawing by Bagram Ibatoulline that I don't like. The illustrations, even from the front cover seemed to be cast in a soft, magical glow, the street lamps peering through a thick fog that settled over the street, waiting for something to be discovered there.

In that fog in the midst of winter, on the corner of 5th and Vine, sit an organ grinder and his monkey. From a window overlooking the street corner a little girl, Frances, watches the organ grinder play and the monkey in the red jacket hold out his silver cup. One night, she notices the pair still sitting out on the corner after everyone else has gone home. The next day, as her mother helps her to prepare for her Christmas pageant, Frances can't stop wondering what will happen to the organ grinder if he stays out on the street. As she and her mother are walking to her pageant later that day, Frances asks the organ grinder to come with them. He smiles a gentle smile as Frances' mother quickly pulls her away.

Bagram Ibatoulline, also the illustrator for Crow Call, is able to capture the slightest look on a characters face. The organ grinder stares sadly but with a hint of affection at the monkey. Frances stares quizzically and longingly out at them. Her mother's face is tight and drawn with worry as she looks at a picture of Frances' father in military uniform. The soft, understated illustrations beautifully compliment the well chosen words of Kate Dicamillo's story.

This is not just another "true meaning of Christmas" story, like the board book about the animals at the stable on Christmas night that I used to read when I was little. The title, Great Joy comes from the angels announcement of Christ's birth to the shepherds (which just happens to be Frances' line in the pageant). "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." Frances, her mother, the organ grinder . . .all kinds of people. With childlike innocence Frances cares for the organ grinder, she asks him to come to the pageant. Bursting with childlike enthusiasm at his entrance, she declares her message of Great Joy! This book is as warm and beautifully delicate as the pictures themselves.