A Christmas Carol: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

From School Library Journal Starred Review. Grade 3 Up–Dickens's cautionary tale of an embittered, stingy old man learning to be a happier, more giving person thanks to the intervention of four ghosts has long been fodder for holiday collections. From its stark opening spread (&MARLEY WAS DEAD) to the final one with its much more cheerful winter scene, this year's version, illustrated in Helquist's darkly comic style, is one of the best. Some of that credit must go to Greenhut, who provided the abridgment. Sacrificing none of Dickens's rich language, this retelling reads beautifully. The artist uses watercolor, pencil, and pastel to create cinematic artwork that contains amusing details; additionally, there are a number of pen-and-ink vignettes that help set the scenes. A winning combination of sparkling prose and exciting art.– Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library END 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. Brett Helquist's celebrated art has graced books from the charming Bedtime for Bear , which he also wrote, to the New York Times –bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket to the glorious picture book adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol . He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.