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Christmas Book Review - The Gift of the Magi Home with Sam

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The Gift of the Magi (Holiday Classics Illustrated by P.j. Lynch) Hardcover – Picture Book, September 9, 2008

by O. Henry (Author), P.J. Lynch (Illustrator)

4.5 4,979 ratings

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O. Henry's classic tale of the wisest gifts of Christmas, brought to life by P.J. Lynch's extraordinary art, is itself a gift to share and treasure.

In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch's eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–An illustrated, unabridged version of the classic short story in which a young husband and wife each, unbeknownst to the other, gives up a most treasured possession to buy the other a wonderful gift. The gifts, of course, are useless as a result, but the couple's love is presumably all the stronger. The sepia-toned watercolors have an authentic period look; the details present in the New York City street scenes and the couple's rather shabby apartment add a strong feeling of time and place to the story. Very different in style from Lisbeth Zwerger's lovely and delicate version (S & S, 2006), this is a fine choice for libraries needing another illustrated edition of this Christmas tale.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

..."as sentimental as Christmas."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

"ÝB¨eautifully wrought illustrations, delicate, uncluttered, and splendidly composed."

-- "New York Times Book Review"

"Lisbeth Zwerger's biting line and soft, evocative palette illuminate the characters with an aura of gaslit nobility, and burnish an antique until it shines."

-- "Time"

About the Author

O. Henry, aka William Sydney Porter, was born in North Carolina in 1862. A master of the short story, he wrote hundreds of tales whose wry humor and plot twists, often amusing or ironic, have earned him a place as one of the best-loved American writers. He died in 1910 at the age of forty-seven.

P.J. Lynch is the celebrated illustrator of many beloved and acclaimed books, including A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE BEE-MAN OF ORN, and IGNIS. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, for THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY and WHEN JESSIE CAME ACROSS THE SEA. He lives in Ireland.

Reading age

Baby - 10 years
Print length

40 pages
Language

English
Lexile measure

AD950L
Dimensions

7.88 x 0.37 x 9.31 inches
Publisher

Candlewick
Publication date

September 9, 2008
ISBN-10

0763635308
ISBN-13

978-0763635305
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; Illustrated edition (September 9, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763635308
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763635305
Reading age ‏ : ‎ Baby - 10 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD950L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.88 x 0.37 x 9.31 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #38,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #22 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Values & Virtues (Books)
- #134 in Teen & Young Adult Classic Literature
- #1,601 in Contemporary Women Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.5 4,979 ratings

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K. Anderson Yancy
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From 2003 – 2013 I was a producing partner of XM/Sirius Satellite Radio providing SonicMovies, my brand of premium audio dramas, to its Book Radio and Playboy's Sexy Stories. I've written, adapted, directed, produced and performed in nearly 300 SonicMovies, been anthologized with John Grisham, Scott Turow, Erle Stanley Gardner and other authors of note in the Mammoth Book of Legal Thrillers, a #1 Bestseller in Australia, appeared in commercials, ads and programs for McDonald’s, Buick, . . . industrial videos; written and directed several short films; been a semi-finalist and finalist in several major screenwriting competition and written numerous short stories, novellas and novels.
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O Henry
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Sonja Danowski
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EZ2C Books
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4.5 out of 5

4,979 global ratings

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HMM

Beautiful book and story

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023

Verified Purchase

Beautiful illustrations to this classic and beautiful story, but heads up - some of the old-timey language was tough for me to decipher, let alone my kids. But it was nice and lyrical. :)

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024

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Gave this book to my daughter in law’s nice Christmas love story

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023

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A beautifully illustrated classic. Faithfully told original. My only caution is that the vocabulary is extremely dated & advanced. That's fine for us as strong readers, but be prepared for a heavy read & not a quick sweet bedtime story.

5 people found this helpful

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Annie Delgado

Beautiful Story

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023

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I have always enjoyed this story during the Christmas season. The spirit of gift giving in times of struggles for a couple who show their love by sacrificing their valuable possessions.

2 people found this helpful

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Kady

True wisdom in love

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2023

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They gave away their most precious possessions to their loved one when all that was needed was love. Did they need to learn a lesson or do we need to take a lesson from these young people?

2 people found this helpful

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LDS Adventures

Great story, BuT...

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2008

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I was introduced to this story through a short movie presentation. It was a touching and learning experience. When I was looking around for the book, I choose this particular one, because I was drawn to the illustrations.

I ordered it, and we gave it to our children for Christmas. One night, my husband read it to them for a bed-time story. (I'm thinking this will be a wonderful teaching moment...) So, he gets to the last paragraph, and I'm expecting tears and touching feelings, and then this...

"The wise men - wonderfully wise men- who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi."

Okay, so I know the guy wrote this in 1906, so some things could be lost in translation from being 100 years old. But, my husband and I had to read it over and over to make sense of what he was saying, and then even when we figured it out, it bothers me that he describes his own writing with the term, "lamely." It also bothers me that he calls the couple "foolish" and their actions as "unwisely sacrificed," but then turns completely around and says that they are "the wisest" and that they are "the magi."

Maybe we are just ignorant and don't understand well-written literature. I usually look for literature that is the original, and not "based on" or "influenced by" or "abridged." This time I think I would rather have gotten one written, "As told by..."

Still, a wonderful story in and of itself!

12 people found this helpful

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John R. Hopkins

O Henry

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023

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A wonderful and timeless story with a message for every Christmas .. True meaning of the Christmas spirit Don't miss it .

2 people found this helpful

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DokDream

The illustrations by Laurate Lynch......

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

The "Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry is probably familiar to most English language readers. This edition is a book by itself, with no other stories. It is beautiful. Mr. Lynch's illustrations are what makes it spellbinding. He has captured love between man and woman, newlyweds, struggling in a harsh winter in the very early years of the 20th century, in New York City. To read it, aloud, in the presence of squabbling couples of today has a calming effect on the parties. Petty complaints and quarrels are forgotten and the duo look forward to a bright and loving future with each other. This book, this PARTICULAR book, is that powerful. Find it if you can, most likely in a used book store, or perhaps online. I note that you will not be able to buy my copy: It is now a treasured member of my library.

4 people found this helpful

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Katja H. Labonté

So Good

Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2019

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5 stars & 5/10 hearts. I came across this story in the Heroines of the Past e-zine by Amy Puetz. She often recommended it, so one day I decided to read it. As you can see...

"2 stars & 2/10 hearts. This book was a let-down, frankly. I felt like their gifts were pointless, since neither could use them. The story was humorous, but it was also ironical and I felt like the author was mocking the couple for sacrificing for each other."

...I was not impressed initially. I deleted the book and moved on. This year, the amazing Professor Carol Reynolds highlighted this book in one of her 2020 Advent posts. She spoke enthusiastically of the writing style, message, and author. Since I quite trust her taste, I decided to give the book another taste. As you can see by my updated rating, I was very impressed! I think perhaps I was too young to appreciate the sacrifice and the pain, when I first read it, too young to catch on the subtle theme.

This time, I was blown away by the amazing writing style. This is a teeny-tiny story, about 2,200 words long. His ability to tell us all we need to know about Della & Jim and their situations & surroundings in just a sentence or two left me astounded! His slight humour was really enjoyable this time, and didn't feel cynical to me--more matter-of-fact. The message itself, and the plot, are so good and left me heart-warm.

In short, this is a delightful classic and Christmas read!

A Favourite Quote: “She had a habit of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: “Please God, make him think I am still pretty.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home.”

2 people found this helpful

Atharva

Sacrifice and love.. You will reread it couple of times.

Reviewed in India on February 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Both sacrificed the most precious belongings each had for the sake of other.. But proved useful to none for the present.. But it did show the immortal love they had for each other. Short story with a profound emotion.
And P. J. Lynch's marvelous illustrations made it a beautiful treasure.

One person found this helpful

Mike P

A great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful read, the story is beautifully written and touch's on the subject of sacrificing the most valuable items to be able to get a gift for a loved one.

O. Henry concludes the story in this way:

"The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi."

A story that teaches us that love is more important than a gift at Christmas.

This is a timeless classic.

2 people found this helpful

Paige Z.

perfect for Christmas season.

Reviewed in Japan on December 23, 2022

Verified Purchase

Short but sweet story for Christmas 🎄 love it.

Sol

Un cuento navideño

Reviewed in Spain on September 29, 2015

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Un cuento para enamorarse y para saber dar valor a lo que realmente lo tiene. Muy breve pero como para buscar más historias de su autor.

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