Friday, November 19, 2010

Review & Giveaway - A Christmas Carol - a Pop Up book - Chuck Fischer

I have always loved pop up books. It just seems like a intimate peek at a secret little world and I am fascinated with the physical engineering that goes into making such a book. Chuck Fischer and Bruce Foster have teamed up for another truly spectacular book for the Christmas season - Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol .

Fischer has painted the scenes of the classic Dickens tale A Christmas Carol and Foster has made the story literally jump off the page!

The entire text of the story and one about Dickens are reproduced in 5 little booklets that accompany each of the scenes. The town and street is the first setting, but the next three were the ones that I loved. Each of the ghosts has their own page. Christmas present has a fold out that pops as well!

I literally opened and closed each page dozens of times, sometimes fast, sometimes slow just observing the magic of all the pieces fitting and folding together and 'peering behind the scenes.' The illustrations are beautiful and full colour - also on the back side. Lots and lots of attention to detail here.

I can see this becoming a Christmas tradition for families - reading the text while the book stands with the pop up scenes as illustration.

This one's destined for the  'special shelf' in my library. And if you'd like to have it on your shelf as well, I have one copy to giveaway,  thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group. Open to US and Canada, no po boxes please, one winner per mailing address. To be entered - leave the name of a Dickens tale or one of your family traditions. Ends Sunday, Dec 5 at 6 pm EST.

Peek inside yourself!

54 comments:

Pam said...

This looks beautiful! Unfortunately, pop-up books are a few years away in our house. Right now, we're into carefully taking things apart. :O) I do love this story, though. It's one of the only Dickens I like.

Patti V said...

I would love to win this! I know a little girl that would be amazed and delighted with it! One of our family traditions is to watch one of the many versions of A Christmas Carol during the holiday season.

Chuck Fischer said...

Thanks for the great review of my new book. I'm thrilled you like it and reading it with the entire family is what I had in mind as I created it. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season. Chuck Fischer www.chuckfischer.com

Charleydog said...

I love "A Christmas Carol" but I also love Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations."

Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

bermudaonion said...

This book is stunning. I'm like you - just fascinated with the paper engineering that goes into these books. No need to enter me.

The Book Chick said...

I would love to read this one with my younger boys, aged 5 and 3. As for traditions, well on Christmas Eve we spend time together as a family, Christmas tree on, Christmas music blaring. We eat snacks and play and watch Christmas movies on TV. The kids go to bed and my husband and I hang out until just after midnight, when we wake up the kids and they open their gifts. It's the way that both of our families have always done it. Oh, and we sleep in Christmas morning, LOL. Thanks for the entry!

jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

christine said...

I would love to win this for my nephew who turns 1 tomorrow. What a perfect holiday gift!!! Tradition: 24 hours of A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve in the background for all the preperations!

Linda said...

When my grandchildren were younger I started a Christmas Eve tradition of hiding 'clues' throughout the house, and leading the children on a 'wild goose chase' to find a present. They refuse to outgrow this habit so even as teenagers they insist on finding a present (usually a book) by following clues. This year my youngest grandchild (age 5) will be here. This lovely pop-up book would be a great treasure for him to find. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah said...

I have two little boys who would love this book! Thank you for the giveaway:)

foxchick0323@live.com

PoCoKat said...

Would love love love this book!!!

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Daily Woman (Lacey) said...

Every Christmas Eve I sit with my boys, some hot cocoa and the book "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Linda Henderson said...

A holiday tradition our family has always done is to read the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

seriousreader at live dot com

Mary Kontrary said...

I absolutely adore popup books! It's always a struggle with myself to give them away, even when I buy them strictly for that purpose. :)

On Christmas Eve, I used to read A Christmas Carol to my daughter when she was little. My own favorite Dickens is A Tale of Two Cities.

I'd love to be entered for a chance to win this and MAYBE give it to a pair of 5-year old twins I know who would love it too.

mkip AT aol DOT com

Rob said...

My tradition is making Christmas Rice Pudding in honor of my Norwegian heritage. Thanks for entering my name for the pop up book.

molokaisurfer(at)gmail(dot)com

Renee G said...

One of our Christmas traditions is making homemade ravioli for Christmas Eve supper.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

Mystica said...

This is lovely but dont count me in please.

Anonymous said...

i love pop up books

mjmeeks5@netscape.net

Mysharona said...

Great Expectations is a classic.

BookHounds said...

No need to enter me, I have this posted at win a book!

http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/11/20/a-christmas-carol-pop-up-book-by-charles-dickens/

Bcteagirl said...

Ooo this sounds like such a great prize! One of our family traditions is to watch 'Scrooge'.. the second one, but NOT the colourized version. For some reason we perceive that version as evil incarnate.

Going to actually be reading through A Christmas Carol for the first time this year... perhaps a pop up book might be more my speed. Heheheh :P

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Our tradition is coffee cake in the morning.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

HAVE TO WATCH A CHRISTMAS CAROL EVERY YEAR....SOME OF THE VERSIONS ARE BETTER THAN THE OTHERS...BUT ALL GOOD AND END MAKING A STATEMENT

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

I absolutely LOVE A Christmas Carol. I have found memories of going to see the play with my grandma.

pinkflipflops44 at gmail dot com

Tina said...

I would love to have this one to establish a new tradition of reading to my grandchild. Love Tale of Two Cities also.

tbranco AT hughes DOT net

rubynreba said...

Love to have this beautiful book. Thanks for the chance.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Carol said...

I remember when I was a little girl my Mom use to read "Oliver Twist" to me and it is my favorite Charles Dickens classic stories.

Christian said...

My traditions were putting up the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving dinner. The candy Advent calendar, Yum. And the opening of one gift on Christmas Eve.

I would love to add reading this awesome pop up book every year.

griffinpoker@hotmail.om

Wildflowerhouse said...

A Christmas Carol is a long family tradition. I would love this book and I thank you for the chance to win it. Happy holidays! Sharon
wildflowerhouse@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I liked oliver twist and a christmas carol, thx for the contest..
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favorite t radition is decorating the tree with the family the day after Thanksgiving.

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

Anonymous said...

One of our holiday traditions is always going to our town's tree lighting - it is a great way to connect with our neighbors and welcome in the holiday season.

greenlancer at comcast dot net

Simply Stacie said...

We watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on TV every year!

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

McKim said...

This would be a great gift for my little grandson. He loves pop-up books.

elaing8 said...

Thaks for the chance to win this
A Christmas Tradition is always letting the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Ruthie said...

We listen to only Christmas music from Thanksgiving until the day after Christmas.

ruthiekb72ATyahooDOTcom

Tara said...

We eat Chinese Food every Christmas Eve! I would love to win this for my son!

TaraTagli at gmail dot com

krstrpp said...

A Tale of Two Cities is such a classic story and still very relevant today. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of A Christmas Carol! (krstrpp at hotmail dot com)

Mia J. said...

This looks like a wonderful pop up book. My daughter and I like to snuggle in bed and read good books and I know she would love this one.

mia at jacobsracing dot com

wgbc1446 said...

I love A Christmas Carol, but Great Expectations was also a great Dickens story. The book looks like something my youngest grandsons would love. wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

My son would love this when I read it to him


mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

Chip said...

One of our favorite traditions is chopping down our own tree. We just got back and it's beautiful!!!
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Stephanie A said...

I always enjoyed a tale of two cities, but i love a christmas carol at this time of year

sassygirl4u27@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I adore this story!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Ah, what memories pop up books bring back..to my own childhood and my children's. Now, there's my grandchildren and great-grandchildren who's eyes I can watch as they read through a pop up book. It would be a wonderful treat to be blessed with this book. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win it. I hope I do!

Joyful Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

On Christmas Eve we go look at the lights while Santa does a super-quickie drive by and drops off a little something extra- pj's, a new movie and a feast of cheese and crackers and the like and after we all shower and get into our new duds we hang and watch and eat munchies- it helps pass the time til we go to bed and wait for Santa to come back. ;)

dvice12 said...

Our family tradition is a big family dinner

Anonymous said...

On Christmas Eve my mother's friend comes over to exchange gifts and have a big dinner

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

mail4rosey said...

Great Expectations is a story both my husband and I love by Dickens.

msurosey@yahoo.com

carolpie said...

Our Christmas tradition we make a big pot of mushroom soup or oyster stew and also make a homemade cake called a Drumcake.

We all eat and open presents.


spencer1953 at gmail dot com-carol.

susansmoaks said...

yes this would be for our special shelf, i would love this book
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

cman said...

Watching midnight mass from Rome.

Sand said...

Sounds like a great book for my niece and nephew.

/\Heather/\ said...

We participate in singing Handel's Messiah every Thanksgiving Sunday!
heatherpooh (hotmail)

Michelle B said...

On christmas eve we watch christmas movies and go for a drive and take the children to see the christmas lights and eat out
angelsspot(at)hotmail(dot)com