As a little girl prepares for the Christmas pageant at church, she looks out the window and notices an organ grinder and his monkey. She wonders where they go at night when it’s cold and snowy, but no one else seems to care. On the eve of the pageant she invites the duo to church. When it’s time to say her single line, she just can’t; it just doesn’t seem right. All the little girl can think about is how cold it is and how sad the organ grinder looks. As everyone in church waits, the doors open, and the little girl knew it was time.

The Bottom Line: This gentle tale exemplifies the true spirit of Christmas. Ibatoulline’s luminous illustrations in acrylic gouache are stunning. Highly recommended for children in grades K - 2.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )

Frances sees an organ grinder and his monkey on the street corner under her apartment. She wonders where they go at night, and find they sleep on the street, too. She gives them money and invites them to come see her in the church Christmas pageant. ( )

Great Joy takes place just before the holiday of Christmas. The main character Frances sees a monkey and his owner from outside her window on the street. Later that same night Frances sees the man and his monkey sleeping on the street. This book is good to see how this character reacts to seeing other individuals dealing with some problems. ( )

Text and illustrations pack a gentle emotional punch; very evocative of the era and a beautiful story. ( )

The combination of a Christmas story of homelessness, a little girl who is concerned, and the inclusion and safety of a church, lends to an incredible tale, rich in meaning and significance at this time of year. With the added lush, rich, incredible illustrations of Bagram Ibatoulline this is my favorite illustrated book of 2014.

When a little girl notices a lonely organ grinder and his monkey standing on the street corner during a very cold day, she cannot help but wonder what happens to them during the night. Purposely staying awake, she waits and watches in the dark as she sees them alone, cold and sad.

Asking her mother what will happen to them provides frustration as she is consumed with day-to-day tasks. The setting appears to be WWII and there is an unspoken, but implied sense that the father is absent, perhaps away at war.

When her mother prepares her costume for the Christmas Eve pageant, the young girl once again worries about the man and his monkey in the cold of winter. Dropping a coin into the cup of the monkey, she invites the organ grinder to attend church that evening.

Hopeful that the organ grinder will come to church to see her read her biblical lines regarding the birth of Jesus who will bring great joy, she finds she cannot say her words until she sees the door open and the organ grinder enter the church.

The organ grinder is welcomed after the service and for this shining night he is happy. In a mere 32 pages, the author raises many issues. The ending is unclear and we are left to wonder what happens after that Christmas Eve night. So often, we reach out to others over the holidays, forgetting the needs still unmet for the remainder of the year. So often, in our haste and daily wear and tear, we have little energy for others. It is through the eyes of a sensitive child, that the story comes to life. It is her compassion and questioning, that lives are touched, if only for one evening filled with meaning and joy. ( )