Great Joy

by Kate DiCamillo, Kate DiCamillo

In her first picture book, America’s beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo reunites with Bagram Ibatoulline to offer readers an unforgettable holiday gift.
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.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Family, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2007

About the author

Kate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.

Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."

Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.

Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art. It has a warm golden glow about it that winter feels like. I was entranced. So, this is a Christmas book. I did not figure that out from the title alone. I simply ordered the title from the library as to read another Kate DiCamillo book. So that was a surprise. Although, it is set at Christmas and around a pageant it could be any snowy time really.

I felt like the story is incomplete. It is a mystery. All we know is a girl sees a man with an organ grinder and his monkey. She is curious about him. We all become curious about him. She invites him to her pageant and he does come. We never know anything about him or see the girl and him really interact. What happens. What will change in their lives because of this??? All mystery and who knows. So I felt this is the first act in a story. Where does the great joy come in????

Even with all the art, the story was good but unfinished and so I can only give it 3 stars. This is a beautiful book.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book so much. The illustrator (Russian, Bagram Ibatouline) did an amazing job in this pre-Christmas story.

The story itself is beautiful. Kate DiCamillo's character Frances is a sweet girl that's worried about the homeless organ grinder and his monkey not having a home. She invites him into church where she's part of a play.

Such a selfless story that is definitely a tear jerker. Perfect for a winter read. I don't imagine many kids full of empathy the way Frances was but there is always hope right?

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl notices an organ grinder playing on her street, later looking out of her window she notices he is sleeping on the street. She asks her mother if he can come for dinner, but her mother says you can't ask strangers to your house. Later the girl is performing in a nativity play at the church, so she invites the man to come and watch. The story ends with the mother talking to the man. This is a lovely Christmas story, you can see the mum's point and you can see why the child just wanted to help. It's a nice conclusion that this was a safe place he could be invited to and hopefully somebody could help his situation. Beautiful illustrations, great observations of expressions, reminded me of the art work in The Whale Song.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite! I loved this book, so gentle and yet so powerful. Really captures the moment when a child realizes the injustice in the world, the lack of compassion--and how troubling that can be, especially when the grown-ups in life can't/won't fix it. And yet, she finds her own way to make some "great joy" in the end. The pictures are absolutely stunning and I really like the "old fashioned" element--I'm guessing '40s--in terms of the style of dress, hair-dos, cars, etc.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I finish reading a book by by Kate DiCamillo I say to myself, "This woman is a genius." And, this gentle picture book is DiCamillo at her best - tender, meaningful, and enlightening without even a hint of preachy judgment. Simply beautiful.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story, beautiful illustrations! A perfect Christmas picture book set in the 1940s. I fell in love with the illustrations - the winter city scenes, the cars, the clothing, the hair styles, the organ grinder and his monkey and the children's pageant, which perfectly illustrated the poignancy and compassionate message of this lovely story. The illustrations, in my mind, were deserving of (but didn't receive) a Caldecott Medal.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this gem of a story on Christmas Eve, the perfect time for such a beautiful tale. Little Frances feels sorry for the organ grinder and his monkey, who sleep out on the streets in the cold. She tries to get her mother to invite him in for supper, but her mother says no. Finally, as they're heading to church on Christmas Eve, she manages to invite the organ grinder to her church--and the rest of the story will bring the tears to your eyes. Bagram Ibatoulline's illustrations really make this story, lending it an atmosphere of long ago with his soft colors. He seems to set it during World War II, judging from the cars, clothing, hair styles, and the picture of Frances' father in a uniform. The dust jacket indicates that this is Kate DiCamillo's first picture book, and it's a winner. Absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended for a Christmas Eve read!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations for this book are simply astounding, I loved looking at them, remembering all the magical moments I had as a child when I didn't know how to read and would glean what I could from the pictures. The story was very sweet and made me smile. Definitely read if you are a fan of Kate DiCamillo.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frances is learning her lines for the Christmas pageant, but she is worried about the organ grinder and his monkey sleeping every night in the cold. Best part: Compassion and the results of compassion as seen in the last painting on the page.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet Christmas story. A child shall lead them and this wee one sees with spiritual eyes what is happening around her. Kate DiCamillo hits it out of the park with this first attempt at a picture book. It could become a Christmas classic for our family.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it when I read it to myself. But when I read it to my family, I sobbed like a baby.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, stunningly beautiful, incredible illustrations of Bagram Ibatoulline, of the 102 children's illustrated books I've read thus far, this is my favorite 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.

The child asks her mother what will happen to them, which only provides frustration as the adult 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 seeks answers to the question regarding the fate of the man and his monkey in the cold of winter. As they leave their warm apartment, venturing into the chill and ice of December, she drops a coin into the cup of the monkey, and 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 sanctuary.

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 through her compassion and questioning that lives are touched, if only for one evening filled with meaning and joy.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas time is fun and festive - but it's also a time of reflection, thoughtfulness and deep meaning. And the Christmas books we read should also be both.

This one is of the latter class. It's poignant, meaningful and thought-provoking. It beautifully drives the message home - "others," "compassion," "love," and "joy." Your children will feel it sink into their hearts and will contemplate those around them, and who they could possibly tell about the One, the "Great Joy."

Ages: 5 - 10

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Neile B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bagram Ibatoulline is one of my favorite illustrators so I had to pick up this book when I saw it. The sweet simple story has a nice message. The beautiful pictures on each page really bring it to life.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit skeptical, given the cover had a rather saccharine, old-fashioned illustration of an angel on the cover. However, I'm thinking about reading every Kate DiCamillo book (and who knows maybe writing about it afterwards), and this seemed like the appropriate book to start with, given it's about Christmas time.

I'm glad I did. It was a very simple, but powerful book with a great message, particularly around the holidays. It might make for a good read if your kid has questions about people who don't have a place to live. The illustrations have a warm, golden quality to them that feels like Christmas.

[Afaf Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

حكاية دافئة عن عن القلوب الدافئة
والتعاطف الذي يجلب الفرح♥️♥️

18 January 2025

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrated children's novelist Kate DiCamillo, who won a Newbery Medal in 2004 for The Tale of Despereaux , turns here to the picture-book, spinning a lovely Christmas tale that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. As young Frances and her mother prepare for the upcoming Christmas pageant at church, the young girl finds herself drawn to the melancholy organ grinder who shows up, together with his red-capped monkey, on the corner across from her city apartment one day. Questioning her mother about the man, and where he and his monkey sleep at night, she is met with evasive non-answers. Waking up late one night, and spying the man and his monkey huddling on the corner, she realizes that they have no home. Distressed and concerned, she asks her mother if they can have the man to dinner, only to be told that strangers can't be invited into the home. Passing the man on the way to church, Frances has an inspired idea, realizing that there is one place where she can invite strangers to enter...

With a moving story, one that perfectly blends the wonder of the Christmas season, as seen through the eyes of a child, with the more adult realities of want and sorrow, and beautiful illustrations that capture the light and darkness in the story, Great Joy is a book that seems to move effortlessly toward its heartfelt conclusion. I appreciated the emotional honesty here - the depiction of Frances' concern, the fact that Frances' mother doesn't have the answers or solutions that she is looking for, the reality that, despite including the organ grinder in the Christmas celebration, his situation hasn't changed by the end of the story - and enjoyed the historical setting (it looks to be the 1930s or 1940s). The artwork is simply breathtaking, with a soft sensibility that works very well, particularly in some of the more shadowy scenes. I think this would make an excellent introduction to the topic of homelessness and hunger, or of social inclusion, for some young children. The open-ended conclusion - we never really find out what happens to the organ grinder after the pageant - lends itself naturally to discussion, and raises questions such as: what more (if anything) should Frances, her mother, and the church community do, to help the organ grinder? Just a lovely, lovely story, one that gets at the heart of the true spirit of Christmas, in the shape of our love for our fellow human beings.

[Jaleesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Frances and the Christmas pageant she is in. While getting ready for the pageant she notices an organ grinder on the street corner and his pet monkey. She asks her mother about where he goes at night and her mother glosses over the subject. Frances goes on to invite him to her pageant and when he walks in the door she feels right saying her lines. I feel like this book glosses over the idea of homelessness. It doesn’t spend any time discussing how he became homeless or how he survives. I do however like that the book shows the differences between how adults feel about homeless people and how children feel about them. Frances wants to invite the organ grinder in for dinner and is appalled that he has to sleep in the snow. Her mother tells her no repeatedly and changes the subject every time he comes up. I think this is an accurate depiction of how most parents would react in this situation. This book ends rather abruptly and could have delved deeper into what happened to the organ grinder after the pageant.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is always much warmth and good spirit in Kate DiCamillo's books. It's a hopeful tale, and it addresses both directly and indirectly the spirit of Christmas which should really be an all year thing... caring for one another and particularly those in need. It also raises a lot of issues that could be discussed in a classroom setting or at home, or simply provide a subject for personal reflection and self examination.

The depiction of the mother was, I felt, particularly telling. She is not an unsympathetic character, but like most of us, she is caught up in the details of schedule and routine and does not dare look at – front on – a more serious issue on her very doorstep. Instead she distracts, hurries, brushes over in every way she can, that problem that seems too difficult to deal with.

The problem is still there at the end, as it is still there in the real world. What are we going to do about it? Each and collectively?

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hauntingly beautiful picture book that would be wonderful to share with young readers as the holidays approach. With an awesome message of the joy of opening doors and opening hearts to those who need kindness and love, this book tells the story of a little monkey and an organ grinder noticed by a little girl, Frances. Out the window of her warm, comfortable apartment she can see them standing on the street corner performing for coins. When she looks again on a cold, snowy night, she sees that they’re still there and this bothers her. The paintings that tell the story are stunning. This definitely belongs in any seasonal collection of books for classroom libraries or just to share and enjoy at home!

[Melissa Izzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a story of compassion at Christmas Time. It is a sweet story of a little girl who is curious where a homeless man goes at night. She has such care and concern for the man because it is snowing and cold. Her mother wants nothing to do with the man, but that doesn't stop her. To be so young and want to reach out and help someone you have never met just tugs at my heart. This was Kate DiCamillo's first picture book and I want her to write more of them! I have read this book across grade levels and it's amazing the thinking and inferring that comes from reading this book. I highly recommend this book around Christmas time or anytime.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably my favorite picture book that I have read so far. It gave me chills. It is a wonderful story that illustrates the difference that one person can make. Not only that, but it shows the pure and simple heart of a child. The world would be a much better place if we were as undiscriminating as the little girl in this story. Great joy is felt when we feel love toward one another, especially at Christmas time. The thing that I liked most about the artwork is the use of color. It really helped to convey the tone of the book. The pictures of the man asleep at night looked cold and wet while the picture of the pageant looked warm and inviting.

[Kelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought that this was a beautiful story that focused on an important aspect of the holidays. The artwork was beautiful- the paintings that were used through out really captured the essence of the story and what the meaning behind it was. I loved that the story focused on the importance of being a friend to all. I think that this would be a great book to be read to children to help them understand the important message that goes along with this story. I thought that the ending was somewhat surprising but powerful. I thought that the overall length of the story was a little long for children to listen fully, but overall I would highly suggest this book to be read to children.

[Kristen Herzog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo! What a good message for kids to read about, it is important to think about others and to not judge but ask questions about their situations. The pictures were absolutely beautiful and I actually really liked how they went with the time frame of when the story takes place. The little girl is so worried about the organ grinder and his monkey but kids today wouldn't even know what an organ grinder is. Excellent way to put a teachable moment into the reading of the story. The author did an excellent job of helping the reader really feel the little girls curiosity about the homeless man and her longing to make something right for him.

[Rubi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another ok book.
The illustrations were beautiful, but I found the story kinda sad and pointless.
Yes, the girl (Frances) was kind, but nothing is really fixed for homeless musician and his monkey.
He just got a kind invitation to church :)
And there is no real satisfying ending (at least for me). It seems like the play ended and everyone ate and life went on like nothing happened. :/
Still, I wish more people would be like Frances instead of her mother. We need people like her in this world.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is remarkable! The art is incredible and the message, hopeful. I tear up each time I read it.


Lesson Connections
One of the Christmas gifts I give my students each year is an extra read aloud every day from the weeks after Thanksgiving till Christmas break. I gather lots of Christmas story books and read one a day. It makes us all happy and the season more celebratory.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book while I was shelving at work. I wish I had seen it during the holidays! However, I still took it home to read because I love Kate DiCamillo's work, and I loved the illustrations.

A lovely book about kindness, compassion, and giving. I may make this one of my Christmas traditions, to read it every year. :)

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visually and textually, this book is beautiful. I wanted to read a couple Christmas picture books for my Child Lit class and am very glad I came across this one and decided to bring it home. The illustrations are soft and magical and inviting, which perfectly mirrors the book's holiday message of inclusion and love.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is a wonderful conversation starter. How can we be more like Frances, the girl who thinks to invite the organ grinder and his monkey to the Christmas pageant? That was the question we asked ourselves at book club today. We love Kate DiCamillo, her tenderness and empathy shines through in her writings.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story capturing the caring spirit of Christmas! In this story, a young child is seen as having more compassion than adults towards those in need. How do adults sometimes go around so blind to the suffering of others? Is it so painful that we have enough to put up uncaring walls?