*Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin

A classic Christmas story of an old sinner who finds redemption through visits from four spirits who convict him of his worldly wretchedness.

Little Christmas Carol based on the classic text by Charles Dickens, Illustrated by Joe Sutphin. Moody Publishers, 2024, 143 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12
Recommended for: ages 8-12

A Christmas Classic

We have Charles Dickens to thank for popularizing many Christmas traditions, thanks to his haunting story about a curmudgeonly miser named Ebenezer Scrooge whose heart is changed through supernatural intervention.

We also have Dickens to thank for one of the best opening lines in literature.

Marley was dead, to begin with.

Why such a beginning? To feel the nearness of death: the deadness of Scrooge’s soul, the somber purpose of the visit of one ghost and three spirits, and the threat of the death of a child if Scrooge remains hard-hearted. Not exactly a merry and bright prospect.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a heartless moneylender who refuses to care for the needy or be cared for by his extended family. He simply doesn’t care. On Christmas Eve, the ghost of his former partner, the aforementioned Marley, comes to his bedchamber to warn him of the eternal horrors that follow a cruel life. But there is hope for Scrooge, if he will heed the three spirits who are to come that night and show him the consequences of his past, present, and future behavior.

Painful lessons bring the humbling effect, and Scrooge is transformed, to the wonderment of all. Although there is no mention of Jesus Christ or the gospel, it is evident that the change is not because of inspirational reading or seasonal obligation; rather, redemption comes from a changed heart that has been convicted of sin and learns compassion. Scrooge is not saved BY good works, but TO good works.

As in Little Pilgrim’s Progress, Sutphin’s illustrations hit the mark. The reader might want an extra blanket just going through the bleak and chilly opening pages, following the narrator moth as we encounter the scowling Scrooge standing at Marley’s freshly dug grave. Apparently Scrooge hasn’t yet been moved by thoughts of his own mortality. This insight is not included in the text, but it provides background to that excellent opening line.

The narrative is shortened, but not drastically, and the audience is not cheated of Dickens’s marvelous vocabulary. Clearly this retelling honors both the brilliance of the original story and the bright minds and limited attention of the child audience. Just linger over it.

Little Christmas Carol is a beautiful version of a beautiful story, worthy of adding to your home library and to your family Christmas read-aloud traditions.

One caveat: this print run is selling quickly. If you want a copy, check your local bookstore, Moody’s website, or Amazon. If you miss getting a hardcover this year, you can always get an ebook! I’ve suggested a couple additional purchasing options below.

(P.S. If you fall in love with Little Christmas Carol, I highly recommend that you follow the reading with watching Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s my favorite Christmas movie!)

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reflection: Janie has excellent thoughts on reading A Christmas Carol, which is a secular story, from a Christian worldview.
• Reviews: Another of Sutphin’s classic re-envisionings is the graphic novel version of Watership Down.
• Resource: If you plan to watch one of the many film versions, here’s a watch-along guide.
• Resource: Have you read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? What did your kids think? Betsy and Megan’s kids share their insights here.

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Order Little Christmas Carol from Amazon, Moody Publishers, Storyglory Kids, or Westminster Kids while supplies last!