It’s one of the ALL TIME classics, and many of us will likely see Jim Carrey’s interpretation of Ebenezer Scrooge this holiday season, but there is a little gem of a book that has recently been released and in the spirit of the season, I’m even going to give one away!
The books arrived on my doorstep at the perfect time. I’d just told my 10 year old son that he CERTAINLY could see the “Scrooge” movie, as soon as he’d read the book….ALL OF IT! I love the reading the classics and with an incentive, everyone is happy.
A Christmas Carol, Special Edition, by Stephen Skelton, contains the full Dicken’s classic, (in it’s original text) and SO much more! ALONG with side notes that are forever helpful in explaining some of the Old English terms and references. Quite a few of them left me saying, “Ohhhhhhhhhh! That’s brilliant of Dickens!” The side notes allowed me to explain some of the more challenging references in the book without the hassle of extra research. It’s all right there! Genius if you ask me!
And if that were not enough, the most valuable part of the book in my opinion are the thematic discussion questions that are included in each chapter. The questions are what make it WONDERFUL for a home school family or with a home school group. The questions come at the end of each “stave” and incorporate “key Scripture” and discussion questions for all ages.
Using A Christmas Carol, Special Edition (available at Amazon.com) would be a wonderful Advent activity for the whole family. The questions are not traditional “comprehension questions” but rather a Bible Study using A Christmas Carol as a guide. Each discussion chapter contains four parts:
I. Telling the Story
(questions on the theme of the stave; Selfishness, Regret, Repentance, Salvation and Rebirth)
II. Telling Your Story
(questions on personal reflection and discussion on how you see the themes in your life)
III. Telling the Story of Christmas
(questions and discussion on relating the theme to Christmas)
IV. Living the Story
(practical suggestions on living out the theme and Scripture guides to go deeper)
Each section of the discussion section includes Scripture verses and questions that can be adapted to any age. In Living the Story there are suggestions on how to apply what we’ve gleaned and Scripture to even “go deeper.”
Dicken’s classic is legenday, but many of us are unaware that on the day before he passed away, he told Rev. John M Markham,
“I have always striven in my writings to express veneration for the life and lessons of our Saviour.”
In the Spirit of the Season, I’ve got a copy to give away! All you’ve got to do is ponder what Dicken’s says in Stave Three (incidently, they are called Staves rather than chapters to continue the musical theme as a “stave” is a stanza of a song. I learned that on page 7 in the side notes.)
“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when it’s mighty Founder was a child himself.”
Tell me in the comments HOW are you going to be a CHILD this Christmas? What are you going to do this season that releases all of the “grown up” in you? Get Creative! Let me know (include a link or email) I’ll let my CHILDREN play Scrooge and choose the winner!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
This year I will sleep under the tree, read A Christmas Carol (my favorite story) drink lots of hot chocolate with marshmallows and really truly enjoy the snow.
This Christmas I am going to take a little break and just play. For me playing consists of Wii games with the kids. You have not seen anything until you see me behind a microphone or a steering wheel on the fast track. We also checked out many Christmas movies from the library and believe it or not I have been just “sitting” with them and watching. So basically I am going to have a holiday, yeah.
Man, wish I could win!
We are going with friends to a indoor water park/resort a couple of days after Christmas.
I saw this book at the Christian book store and have wanted it ever since. In October our family drove 3 hours to Atlanta, Georgia just to see the Christmas Carol Train which was promoting the movie- it was awesome and we even got to morph ourselves into the characters. How could I not read the book after that? This year we will continue to read the book as a family and watch Disney’s Christmas Carol as a special family date in the cinema- and we’ll even pay full price. Something we rarely do!:) Merry Christmas!
This year, I got all my shopping and wrapping done early so that I may be able to just relax and enjoy the time with my children instead of rushing to wrap gifts right before heading to a celebration!! Already excited about how this Christmas is turning out!!
This year I’m going to make gingerbread houses with the kids. I mean sitting down and decorating…not just handing them each supply they need. Also, I will take the time to sit and watch a Christmas movie eVeRy time they ask and I’ll make us some popcorn with m&m’s mixed in! Try it!
Blessings,
shan
Since I never was much of a “child” growing up. Our fun usually means cookie baking, Christmas cards all over the walls, and Gingerbread houses and trees, and homemade presents. I really have to work hard to not be a Scrooge at Christmas. But this is my all time favorite Christmas book and ranks really high on favorite stories – at least top 50. If our TV was working, we’d be doing a Christmas Carol marathon – watching every version we could find!
thanks for the reminder that I need to “play” during this season. I’ve done none of that lately, and I need to. I’m not sure what I’ll do, honestly, but maybe this reminder will help me slow down long enough to think of something.
thanks for the giveaway. I didn’t see a date on it, so I hope I’m not too late.