Let's face it -- it hardly seems like Christmas without Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. But, let's continue to face it, after a lifetime of retelling, the story can get a little -- how can I put this? -- stale. If that's how you're feeling about this classic story, then this is the book for you! Chuck Fischer's beautiful illustrations and Bruce Foster's ingenous paper engineering literally bring this old favorite to 3-D life.

Six delightful page spreads definitely make the story pop -- as in UP, of course! Beginning with a beautifully detailed depiction of a London street at Christmastime. We are then visited by Marley's Ghost and each of the three Christmas Spirits - Past, Present, and Future. The final pop-up is again of the London street but this time the foreground includes the joyous Tiny Tim held aloft on the shoulder of a beaming Scrooge. There is so much detail in each of the individual scenes that you will want to spend some time examining each one. I continually find something new each time I look the book over. I think my favorite depiction is that of the Ghost of Christmas Past. There's an extra little series of pop-ups which give us glimpses of Scrooge's younger years and help explain how he came to be so close-hearted and tight-fisted.

Another thing that I really liked is that each pop-up page includes a little booklet, dividing the text of A CHRISTMAS CAROL into five segments. It makes it easy to read the story a little at a time allowing the reader to savor both the message and the period detail. Additionally, the little pamphlets are illustrated with pictures by John Leech, the original illustrator of A Christmas Carol. The first pamphet contains an essay on the enduring appeal of the story and a brief biography of Charles Dickens himself. These little pamphlets enhance the story told in pop-ups and should not be overlooked.

We've all enjoyed Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A Pop-Up Book here at my house. Chuck Fischer and Bruce Foster have created another beautiful book that will appeal to to anyone of any age. I highly recommend it.