Sooper Dooper!

                                               

I don't know much about this other than it's a fun, modern take on "A Christmas Carol" aimed at the youngsters!

You can check it out at Sooper Books!

And who knew E. Scrooge uses a Mac?

Double Down!

"A Christmas Carol" (2015)
Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Text: Adam McKeown
Illustrations: Gerald Kelley

Here's another kid-friendly retelling of "A Christmas Carol" without any piano!

Sample pages:

I find these things to be interesting, mainly for the illustrations.

I can't help but notice that Marley's gravestone shows that he was born in 1781 and died in 1836.

That would mean he was 55 when he passed away and if that was seven years earlier from the setting of the story, the story is taking place in 1843, one year prior to the original publication of the book.

Interesting!

Easy Does It!

"A Christmas Carol Easy Piano Picture Book" (1998)

Faber and Faber

Text: Kenneth Lillingam

Illustations: Annabel Spenceley

Here's an interesting edition of "A Christmas Carol" that blends an illustrated kid-version of the story with "easy" piano versions of Christmas carols!

A sample of the story:

A sample carol:

Kind of fun!

"What Is the Story of Ebenezer Scrooge?" (2022) - Penguin Random House

"What Is the Story of Ebenezer Scrooge?" (2022)

Penguin Random House

Author: Sheila Keenan

Illustrator: Andrew Thomson

New for the 2022 holiday season is this entry in the WhoHQ series aimed at middle school readers.

It seemed interesting, so I grabbed a copy and gave it a read.

It does a very good job of proving context for "A Christmas Carol" by exploring the life of Charles Dickens himself and the conditions of England at the time.

It also runs through the story of the book, basically translating it into modern English, if you will.

I guess this functions as something of a replacement of the original book for kids as it wouldn't really work in conjunction with reading "A Christmas Carol" at the same time as a regular study guide would.

You can find out more and read an excerpt at the Penguin Random House website.

I do have to say, however, that the cover design of the series with the enormous heads on little bodies really creeps me out!

Is That Really a Ghost?

Here's Letter G from an "illustrated literary book alphabet for children with favorite fairy tale characters":

Fairy tale or no, it's Scrooge and Marley's Ghost. "G" for Ghost, I get it!

Crazy depiction of Marley's Ghost, though! I'm thinking more zombie, maybe? Letter Z?

Popeye and Friends - Peter Pan Records (1977) - Part 2

If you got the chance to listen to the Popeye adventure "Deck the Halls," I'm sure you'll agree with my assessment that it's bizarre!

Beyond, that, however, I find the whole thing too juvenile, and that's something I didn't like, even when I was a kid! The "Ebesneezer" name just isn't funny.

I'm a Popeye fan, though, so I do appreciate hearing Jack Mercer in the role, as he's the definitive Popeye voice.

I also think it's funny that Popeye is attempting to be the grammar police, which is a sorely needed touch of wit!

And why is this story named "Deck the Halls" anyway?

For holiday-related Popeye that's more up my alley, here's his 1933 cartoon "Seasin's Greetinks!":

That's early in the Popeye series (only the fourth release) and features Popeye's actual original voice, Billy Costello.

The Peter Pan album says Jack Mercer was the original voice, but would anyone in the intended demographic know who either Jack or Billy was?

Popeye and Friends - Peter Pan Records (1977) - Part 1

"Deck the Halls" (1977)

Popeye and Friends

Peter Pan Records

Surrogate Scrooge: Ebesneezer Stooge

Here's a bizarre kiddie record spin on "A Christmas Carol" from Peter Pan Records featuring Popeye the Sailor, voiced by his long-time mouthpiece Jack Mercer.

Give it a listen:

Bizarre, right?

Baby Scrooge?

Here's a short, children's version of "A Christmas Carol" from PinkFong (the folks behind the infamous "Baby Shark" earworm:

Is it wrong that I kind of like it?

A Good Deal?

I know these things are a racket:

But it still sounds like a good deal!

Still Gold!

Keeping the Mickey thing going, here's a coloring book from 1984:

The publisher is "Golden," so it must be related to Little Golden Books?

In any event, for those keeping score, that's Dewey doing the painting on the cover!

How Sweet It Is!

This one from Sweet Cherry Publishing has very intriguing artwork:

More info at the Sweet Cherry website.

The artwork reminds me of something. Ren & Stimpy, maybe?

How about Haggis MacHaggis?

Fun fact: Haggis was voiced by Alan Young, sounding very much like Scrooge McDuck!

Creepy!

Here's the odd (and creepy looking) cover to a kids' record from 1978:

Scrooge looks like a zombie that rose out of that grave!

And Tiny Tim appears to have a broken leg. Wouldn't that just heal by next Christmas and he'd be all set?

At least it's very 1970s!

Royale!

Here's something on which I'd like to get my mitts, or at least be able to hear:

Gotta keep searching!

More McDuck!

This coloring book from 1994 seems interesting:

What catches my eye is that this is billed as "A Christmas Carol" rather than "Mickey's Christmas Carol" so how is the story presented?

I wonder if I can still get a copy for 99 cents?

Spanish!

Hey, this seems like a good idea:

There's more info at the Diglot website.

I might try it!

Boy's Own!

Here's the intriguing cover of the January 1952 (presumably available in December 1951) issue of the British publication "Boy's Own Paper":

What would an early 1950s British boy say about that? Brilliant? Wicked? Gear?

The "Boy's Own Paper" was published for quite a long time, 1879 to 1967. I know I've heard the phrase "Boy's own" this or that used (somewhat derisively as in too good to be true) in old British movies and maybe this magazine is the source of that?

Bonus Robert A. Graef

In addition to his work on the 1940 edition of "A Christmas Carol" from McLoughlin Bros., Robert A. Graef (1879-1951) produced tons of art for books and magazines.

He painted a bunch of covers for "Argosy" magazine. Here are just a couple:

He illustrated lots of stories for "Boys' Life" magazine, including many sports stories:

Many of these were adapted into books:

In addition to "A Christmas Carol," he illustrated other classics for children:

Here's a couple more illustrations:

He definitely had an affinity for sports stories:

A versatile artist, his work on "A Christmas Carol" barley scratches the surface!

"A Christmas Carol" - McLoughlin Bros., Inc. (1940) - Part 2

Here are some of the interior illustrations by Robert A. Graef from the McLoughlin Bros. 1940 edition of "A Christmas Carol":

Good work! I'll have to get my mitts on a copy for more (and better) images!

"A Christmas Carol" - McLoughlin Bros., Inc. (1940) - Part 1

"A Christmas Carol" (1940)

McLoughlin Bros., Inc. 

Illustrator: Robert A. Graef

Here's the cover of an edition of "A Christmas Carol" illustrated by Robert A. Graef as published by McLoughlin Bros. in 1940.

The scene is not from the book, but it's fun.

I think Scrooge kind of looks like Otto Kruger!

Just thought I'd mention that.

Carry on!

Lit for Little Hands: "A Christmas Carol" (2019)

Lit for Little Hands: "A Christmas Carol" (2019)

Familius

Adapter: Brooke Jorden

Illustrator: David Miles

We jump ahead to the 21st century for this fun little adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" for youngsters from the "Lit for Little Hands" series!

It's a chunky little board book with a simplified (but not really dumbed-down) text and kid-friendly illustrations:

For extra kid-friendly fun, each two-page spread has some sort of moving part, that you pull or spin or whatever for some little detail. For example, on the left hand side of the above picture of Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past is a little tab (not visible in this stock illustration) that, when pulled, reveals the two of them flying through the window!

You can find out more at the Familius website.

Always good to see new treatments for a new generation!

And props for giving Scrooge a bit of that "frosty rime" on his wiry chin!