Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Bayport Public Library | EASY JOH | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | PICTURE BOOK JOH | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Stillwater Public Library | EASY JOH CHRISTMAS | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
The beauty and spirit of Christmas resounds in the melodic chimes of a church bell in this lyrical picture book by well-known author Tony Johnston with breathtaking illustrations by watercolor artist Cheng-Khee Chee. on Christmas Eve, people bundle up in the cold and follow the sounds of the bell to gather in celebration. Creatures great--children, dogs, cats, and birds--and small stop to listen as a brass band marches through town. the poetry and imagery of these verses and the classic feel of this lush artwork make for a memorable Christmas read-aloud.
Author Notes
Tony Johnston was born in Los Angeles, California on January 30, 1942. She received a B.A. in history and an M.A in education from Stanford University. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a fourth-grade teacher.
She has written over 70 books for children. Her titles include Amber on the Mountain, the Cowboy and the Black-Eyed Pea, Day of the Dead, the Ghost of Nicholas Greebe, the Sparky and Eddie series, and the Adventures of Mole and Troll. Her first adult novel was Any Small Goodness.
Her works have earned her several awards including a Children's Choice Award for Four Scary Stories and the Beatty Award in 2002 for Any Small Goodness.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
The sound of Christmas chimes from "an icicle-pointed steeple" calling a community together to celebrate "this calm and holy night," in Johnston's (Cat, What Is That?) joyful picture book. People young and old (and very cold!) gather in a quaint town square gaily lit by street lamps, twinkling holiday tree lights and warm smiles. With a wet-paper watercolor technique (explained in an artist's note) Chee (Old Turtle) achieves gently smudged, impressionistic images of the wondrous Christmas Eve proceedings. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
The ringing church bell beckons the community to gather in celebration of Christmas. Dogs, cats, and birds ""hear the bell"" and pause--""They know / this night of nights."" Subtle rhymes make this quiet but joyous poem sing. Using a watercolor method called ""saturated wet-paper technique,"" Chee creates images of snow-covered, mittened and muffed carolers reveling on Christmas Eve. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Impressionistic watercolor illustrations filled with blowing snow and blue-gray skies set a wintry tone in this poetic exploration focusing on the sounds and sights of Christmas Eve, such as a church bell ringing from "an icicle-pointed steeple." Johnston's poem uses the word "Noel" in bold type throughout the text to indicate the sound of the church bell, but there are also the sounds of a brass band, sleigh bells and Christmas carols. The text is full of sensory details of all sorts: "a dark snow-smell," "ears red with cold," a tree decorated with cookies and candies. Chee's soft-focus watercolors show just enough to draw the reader into each scene, while holding back specifics so that the viewer has to participate in the art by filling in some of the details. His impressionistic paintings are a fine match for the poem that serves as the text: Both seem to say that the hours of Christmas Eve rush by quickly in a blur of sensations too intense to last. (artist's note) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
