Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol - a Pop-Up Book by Chuck Fischer

Remember Chuck Fischer's Angels: A Pop-Up Book last Christmas? This year, Chuck Fischer's come up with a detailed depiction of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book (Pop Up Book).  



The book includes a small and beautifully illustrated insert that recounts Charles Dickens' life history and how he came to write A Christmas Carol in 6 weeks. The book was published on December 19, 1843 - one day and 177 years ago.   Mark Twain credited Charles Dickens as the author who invented the book tour since Dickens would travel to present his literary works.  This book, A Christmas Carol, is said to have helped transform Christmas from a regular holiday to a celebration of good will and holiday cheer.  


A Christmas Carol was my introduction to Charles Dickens when I was in elementary school.  And it remains one of my favorite books and Dickens one of my all time favorite authors.

As Dickens had written in installments, A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book (Pop Up Book) presents the story -- Dickens' actual words -- in five staves: Marley's Ghost, The First of The Three Spirits, The Second of the Three Spirits,  The Last of The Spirits, and The End of It. Each section magically recreates the important and unforgettable events in each of the five parts. 

The first recreates Dickens and Marley's London with the lamp lighters and gas street lights, horse drawn carriages, urchins warming by an outdoor fire, Scrooge & Marley's office with old Scrooge stepping out and tightly grasping his briefcase.  The second gives us the grandfather clock, the luxurious interior of Scrooge's townhouse, and Scrooge and Marley.  Scrooge's expression captures so well the moment that Marley appears.  I loved the third part best. Fischer didn't just describe the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Past. He recreated several of the pivotal moments in Scrooge's life.  This section will surely make the book a family favorite.  The fourth shows us the Cratchetts' at dinner with the Christmas pudding, a depiction of  the feasts that Scrooge refused to join, and Scrooge as he is affected by the visits.  The fifth shows Scrooge confronted how his life might end and his horror at this.  The book ends with Tiny Tim Cratchett and his famous line, "God Bless Us, Every One!" and the new shop, Scrooge and Cratchett.

A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book (Pop Up Book) is the beautiful sort of book that a child would love.   The pictures will capture the child's attention.  The story and Dickens' writing will captivate.

ISBN-10: 031603973X - Hardcover $30.00
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; Pop Har/Bk edition (November 10, 2010), 12 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.