Great Joy, by Kate DiCamillo

Speaking of JOY today - Candlewick Press sent me a copy of Great Joy to read this Christmas season and it was one of the books my kids and I opened this past week to read.

Of course, DiCamillo is no stranger to the children's book scene but I'm rather slowly becoming familiar with her work. In this particular story, we meet a little girl who notices an organ grinder and his monkey across the street from her apartment building. The girl is very concerned about this pair, hoping that they have a safe and warm place to be at night during the Christmas season. Her mother rather dismisses the young girl's concern but the daughter is persistent. She stays up until midnight one night and then sneaks to the window only to discover that the organ grinder and his monkey are still on the curb. They have no place to go.

Moved with compassion, the girl invites the organ grinder (and his pet!) to the Christmas pageant at her church. Whether or not they attend will have to be something you discover if you pick up the book.

It is a sweet little story which illustrates a point that is rather true, I think. In the hustle and bustle of this busy season, sometimes it's the little children who notice things that are even just a little out of place. We adults are busy scurrying around trying to accomplish things on our To Do List and we miss the needs of others. Normally, I wouldn't care for a story with a weak parental figure but the mother isn't represented cruelly. She's just preoccupied. It should also be noted that the story is set in World War II (and a picture of the girl's soldier father is on the desk), and the mother is illustrated in such a way as to make her look remarkably like Maureen O'Hara. (I confess I had a hard time not thinking about Miracle on 34th Street while reading this book to my kids!)

As for my children, my four year old found Great Joy the most appealing and asked for three re-reads in a row! So I think it's safe to say he liked it.

I did too. Again, there is a slightly weak parental figure but I think the story is told in a tasteful enough way to express the young girl's longing to see the man and his beloved pet taken care of during the holiday season. In the end, I have no objections. This is a quick picture book and one that I'm sure we'll enjoy a time or two in the coming years.

Thanks, Candlewick, for sending a copy my way!