Great Joy - Hardcover

Just before Christmas, an organ grinder and his monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances' apartment. Frances can see them from her window and, sometimes, when it's quiet, she can hear their music. She can't stop thinking about them, especially after she sees the man and his monkey sleeping outside on the cold street at midnight. Even when it is her turn to speak in the Christmas play, all she can think about is the organ grinder's sad eyes. Everyone is silent until Frances finds the perfect words to share, just in time.

Kate DiCamillo is the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Tale Of Despereaux (9780744598698), The Tiger Rising (9780744589641), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (9780763625894) and the award-winning bestseller Because of Winn-Dixie (9780744583496), which was recently made into a Hollywood film. She lives in Minneapolis, USA. Bagram Ibatoulline graduated from the State Academic Institute of Arts in Moscow and has illustrated numerous picture books, including The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Hana in the Time of Tulips. Born in Russia, he now lives in New Jersey, USA.