Let me start by saying that the four star rating is a combination rating for both stories. A Christmas Carol was definitely a 5 star read. It's brilliantly written and, as I discovered with the audio edition, surprisingly funny. I found this beautifully illustrated hardcover edition at a library sale for 20 cents. I got a real steal.

My absolute favourite quote:

“You seek to close these places on the Seventh Day?” said Scrooge. “And it comes to the same thing.”

“I seek!” exclaimed the Spirit.

“Forgive me if I am wrong. It has been done in your name, or at least in that of your family,” said Scrooge.

“There are some upon this earth of yours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”

This seems an apt quote for our times as well as his.

This book also includes A Christmas Tree. This was a story I loved in spirit but in deed, it's a slog. It took me forever. It's rambling and it's not always easy to comprehend. It's Charles Dickens, the stream-of-consciousness version. I love how he viewed the Christmas tree, but man was I glad to finally see the backside of this story. 3 stars. ( )

A wonderful edition from Templar filled with beautiful illustrations by Robert Ingpen. This is the sort of book you know well and want a good edition to keep and reread time and again, and this is my edition of choice for A Christmas Carol, over and above several more expensive posh editions. In a word: gorgeous. ( )

Charles Dickens' classic tale, beautifully illustrated by Robert Ingpen - this one is always a joy to read at Christmastime. ( )

Much better than the movies! ( )

Good for reading aloud to the class during the Christmas season. ( )