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Great Joy Hardcover – Picture Book, October 9, 2007
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It is just before Christmas when an organ grinder and monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances’s apartment. Frances can see them from her window and, sometimes, when it’s quiet, she can hear their music. In fact, Frances can’t stop thinking about them, especially after she sees the man and his monkey sleeping outside on the cold street at midnight. When the day of the Christmas pageant arrives, and it’s Frances’s turn to speak, everyone waits silently. But all Frances can think about is the organ grinder’s sad eyes — until, just in time, she finds the perfect words to share. Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo pairs once again with acclaimed artist Bagram Ibatoulline as she presents a timeless story of compassion and joy.
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Lexile measureAD680L
- Dimensions10.13 x 0.4 x 11.63 inches
- PublisherCandlewick
- Publication dateOctober 9, 2007
- ISBN-100763629205
- ISBN-13978-0763629205
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Editorial Reviews
Review
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Ibatoulline’s evocative artwork moves [the story] to a higher level. The setting is the 1940s, and the art captures the time beautifully.
—Booklist (starred review)
This simple but powerful story will indeed bring the reader great joy.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Newbury Medalist DiCamillo spins a tale of compassion and holiday warmth.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Yet another wonderful tale from the award-winning author that is beautifully depicted by Ibatoulline.
—Library Media Connection, Highly Recommended
Bagram Ibatoulline's illustrations are all about the contrast between warmer, golden interiors and the cold purplish blue of winter's twilight. Frances acts in a way that lets her feel joy from within.
—Chicago Tribune
Newbery medalist Kate DiCamillo’s heart-warming prose is gorgeously complimented by Bagram Ibatoulline’s inspiring illustrations…overlaid with a hazy glow of wonder.
—National Center for the Study of Children’s Literature
The fabulous duo of DiCamillo and Ibatoulline, who gave us the beautiful Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane last year, has teamed up for a picture book that could become a holiday classic.
—Kansas City Star
It's a simple story with a simple ending, but it focuses on what the season is supposed to be about: giving to others and opening up your heart.
—Louisville Courier-Journal
A gorgeous volume with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline, Great Joyis about the difference between marking Christmas and understanding its meaning.
—Miami Herald
There's genuine warmth to the satisfying Christmas pageant climax, which resonates like a favorite carol — the kind that makes you cry.
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
The atmospheric art contrasts the chill of the weather and warm glow of the climactic welcoming celebration.
—San Francisco Chronicle
The best yule book of 2007…would revive anyone's Christmas spirit after a day spent enveloped in a swirl of mall Muzak and shoppers' elbows.
—Tacoma News Tribune
An inspiring story of Christmas kindness…Luminous paintings capture the story's depth and light.
—Grand Rapids Press
[A] touching story of good will toward all…Bagram Ibatoulline's subtle illustrations convey the true spirit of the season.
—Literary Features Syndicate
Spare, loving prose and luminous acrylic illustrations make each full-page spread a heartfelt joy. Read this giving tale aloud to your loved ones this season.
—Copley News Service
Unparalleled in its simplicity of words and its ethereal illustrations.
—The Asheville Citizen-Times
This magnificently illustrated, heartwarming book is a different kind of holiday tale, one that addresses the true meaning of Christmas.
—Catholic Online
Luminous illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline accentuate the power of random acts of kindness.
—Charlotte Parent
A beautiful book from a very special storyteller. You’ll want to add this to your family’s collection.
—Parentclick.com
Heart-warming prose is gorgeously complemented by…inspiring illustrations…overlaid with a hazy glow of wonder.
—National Center for the Study of Children’s Literature
About the Author
Bagram Ibatoulline is the illustrator of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, as well as The Serpent Came to Gloucester by M. T. Anderson, Hana in the Time of the Tulips by Deborah Noyes, The Animal Hedge by Paul Fleischman, The Nightingale retold by Stephen Mitchell, and Crossing by Philip Booth. He lives in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania.
Product details
- ASIN : 0763629200
- Publisher : Candlewick; First Edition (1st printing) (October 9, 2007)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0763629205
- ISBN-13 : 978-0763629205
- Reading age : 4 - 8 years
- Lexile measure : AD680L
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 1.2 pounds
- Dimensions : 10.13 x 0.4 x 11.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,745,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #426 in Children's Homelessness & Poverty Books (Books)
- #4,139 in Children's Values Books
- #5,118 in Children's Christmas Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Kate DiCamillo’s writing journey has been a truly remarkable one. She grew up in Florida and moved to Minnesota in her twenties, when homesickness and a bitter winter led her to write Because of Winn-Dixie — her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. The Tiger Rising, her second novel, was also set in Florida and went on to become a National Book Award finalist. Since then, the best-selling author has explored settings as varied as a medieval castle and a magician’s theater while continuing to enjoy great success, winning two Newbery Medals and being named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She now has almost 30 million books in print worldwide.
Now, for the first time ever, Kate DiCamillo is returning to the world of a previous novel to tell us more about a character whom her fans already know and love. In Louisiana’s Way Home, set two years after the events of National Book Award finalist Raymie Nightingale, she picks up the story of Raymie’s friend Louisiana Elefante, who uncovers difficult truths about her past — and makes choices that will determine her future.
Kate DiCamillo’s books’ themes of hope and belief amid impossible circumstances and their messages of shared humanity and connectedness have resonated with readers of all ages around the world. In her instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, a haughty china rabbit undergoes a profound transformation after finding himself face down on the ocean floor — lost and waiting to be found. The Tale of Despereaux — the Newbery Medal–winning novel that later inspired an animated adventure from Universal Pictures — stars a tiny mouse with exceptionally large ears who is driven by love to become an unlikely hero. The Magician’s Elephant, an acclaimed and exquisitely paced fable, dares to ask the question What if? And Kate DiCamillo’s second Newbery Medal winner, Flora & Ulysses, was released in 2013 to great acclaim, garnering five starred reviews and an instant spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
Born in Philadelphia but raised in the South, Kate DiCamillo now lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.
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From an apartment window above the street level, a little girl named Frances would watch the man and his monkey, both during the day and the night. Frances became concerned about the man and his monkey and what happens to them at night. Now Frances' mother was sewing her a robe for the church pageant; she was going to be an angel.
That night, Frances made herself stay awake because she wanted to see if the old man and his monkey were still out on the street corner so late at night. Yes, she saw them, and called to them; the old man waved his hat to her.
Well, the next morning, Frances told her Mother that they sleep on the street, even in the snow. She even wanted to invite them for dinner, but her Mother said they couldn't because they were strangers. Frances and her Mother, dressed in their winter coats and boots, walked in the snow. Frances saw that the man and the monkey were still on the street corner; she placed a coin in the monkey's cup, and invited the man to the Christmas play, that night. She explained that she was in the Christmas play at the church. She even asked him if he wanted to hear her one line in the play. Before he could say anything, Frances' Mother hurried her on so they wouldn't be late. Frances could see the sad eyes on the man's face. He just smiled at her.
By the time Frances had put on her wings and halo, it was her turn to speak. The other characters waited, but Frances couldn't speak. All she could think of was how cold it was outside for the man and his monkey; she remembered how sad the man looked. All of a sudden, at the back of the church, the door opened; in came the man and his monkey, and in the midst of the quiet church, Frances smiled and shouted, "Behold! I bring you tidings of Great Joy!" The man walked in with the monkey. More than that, he spent time with the people in the church. Frances had made one person's world better that night by showing that she cared.
The artist, Bagram Ibatoulline, an acclaimed Russian artist, noted for illustrating children's picture books, used the acrylic gouache method, which is the mixing of glue with the paint. As you browse through this very simple book, you will notice the small details in the artist's brushstrokes; these illustrations compliment the author's text. The drawings look a bit like those of the renown Norman Rockwell, though these illustrations have a softness that Rockwell's artwork don't have. Some of the illustrations remind me of sepia photographs, with a bit of infused color. This book carries a powerful message of compassion in the child's heart.


I shall however, give you my review on this book. A family favorite or ours. Our kids love it. We discovered this and read it to them a lot when they were young. Even in non holiday times. The positive Christian based holiday message, the dead on period drawn scenes. And the last page - - the money shot of the little girl who realizes the good she's done. Just looked at the exquisitely composed last panel of the whole cast and the line of vision of the little girl to the good deed done. Beautiful! Perfect!
Highly recommend. Wish this team would do more books.
One note - I'm not sure why it's called a "midi" edition. I believe this might be better stated "mini" edition. The pages are about 6" x 8", but it's still adequately large to enjoy.
Top reviews from other countries

The illustrations are gloriously traditional without being twee (in fact, the reminded me of Shirley Hughes most).
The text refers to a nativity play but not to the Christian story itself, so would be suitable for all but the most religious and most anti-religious families.
Recommended for primary-school children aged approximately 5 to 7.



