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Georgie the Ghost #8
Georgie's Christmas Carol
1975 1st printing Trumpet Club kids picture book as shown. Tight stapled spine, clear crisp pages, no writing, light edgewear, smokefree.
45 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
33 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bright
39 books27 followersRobert Bright was born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1902 and passed away in San Francisco in 1988. He spent his childhood in Europe and completed his education at Phillips Academy, Andover, and Princeton University.
His vocations included those of newspaper reporter in Baltimore and Paris, art and music critic in Sante Fe, New Mexico, teacher in Boston, and novelist. Believing that "the imaginative child in the imaginative man is fortunately never far away," Mr. Bright has delighted in writing his numerous books for children. Many of these star Georgie, the friendly little ghost who first appeared in 1944 and has been charming young readers on both sides of the Atlantic ever since.
His vocations included those of newspaper reporter in Baltimore and Paris, art and music critic in Sante Fe, New Mexico, teacher in Boston, and novelist. Believing that "the imaginative child in the imaginative man is fortunately never far away," Mr. Bright has delighted in writing his numerous books for children. Many of these star Georgie, the friendly little ghost who first appeared in 1944 and has been charming young readers on both sides of the Atlantic ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 19, 2020
This was a different sort of Christmas book. The artwork doesn't give you the Christmas feels, but the story does. The artwork looks like it was done with a blue pen and a each page has a little touch of red pen thrown in. I am rather amazed a book in the 70s would have so little color. It feels like a book from the 30s. The artwork isn't terrible, he is a talented artist with his pen, it just feels sort of art school project or something instead of a kids Christmas book. I can see many kids not enjoying this because of the artwork.
The story is pretty good. I wanted to give 4 stars, but I feel the artwork really holds the rating down. This is a pinch of 'A Christmas Carol' in here and Casper the friendly ghost. 2 children go to live with their gloomy uncle who lives in a big house all by himself and he doesn't believe in Christmas, of course, because he asked for a sled as a child and never got it. The children write a letter, all positive and sure someone will listen and they build a snow man and stick their letter on it.
Georgie the ghost finds the letter and he gets it to the people he lives with. He finds some items in the attic and the husband and wife fix up the old items. Georgie gets it to the kids on Christmas night which may be the best picture. A cow with tree branches as antlers pulling a sleigh with a ghost in a Santa hat and an owl with a wreath. That was good.
So, Christmas morning, the gloomy uncle finds his sled and he is changed and happy and the kids have a great Christmas.
There is a lot here. I think this could be made into something interesting. What I enjoy about it is that it's so different, nothing like other Christmas books for kids I've read and I like there is a ghost. We don't know if people can see Georgie or not, it isn't made clear. There is a Christmas cheer in this book to warm my heart and I do enjoy it, the artwork just was very disappointing. Plus, it isn't often you find a Christmas book with such a different take on things.
It's an odd book, satisfying, but odd. I read this on Open Library.
The story is pretty good. I wanted to give 4 stars, but I feel the artwork really holds the rating down. This is a pinch of 'A Christmas Carol' in here and Casper the friendly ghost. 2 children go to live with their gloomy uncle who lives in a big house all by himself and he doesn't believe in Christmas, of course, because he asked for a sled as a child and never got it. The children write a letter, all positive and sure someone will listen and they build a snow man and stick their letter on it.
Georgie the ghost finds the letter and he gets it to the people he lives with. He finds some items in the attic and the husband and wife fix up the old items. Georgie gets it to the kids on Christmas night which may be the best picture. A cow with tree branches as antlers pulling a sleigh with a ghost in a Santa hat and an owl with a wreath. That was good.
So, Christmas morning, the gloomy uncle finds his sled and he is changed and happy and the kids have a great Christmas.
There is a lot here. I think this could be made into something interesting. What I enjoy about it is that it's so different, nothing like other Christmas books for kids I've read and I like there is a ghost. We don't know if people can see Georgie or not, it isn't made clear. There is a Christmas cheer in this book to warm my heart and I do enjoy it, the artwork just was very disappointing. Plus, it isn't often you find a Christmas book with such a different take on things.
It's an odd book, satisfying, but odd. I read this on Open Library.
December 21, 2022
Georgie the friendly little ghost -- who is not to be confused with Casper the Friendly Ghost -- helps a Scrooge-type character find his Christmas spirit.
It took me a little while to figure out nobody except animals can see Georgie, but just when I got used to that, a person in the story could see Georgie. Now I'm just going to throw my hands up in the air in frustration.
Apparently Georgie has a complex mythology and jumping into the middle of the series with this eighth book might have been a mistake.
It took me a little while to figure out nobody except animals can see Georgie, but just when I got used to that, a person in the story could see Georgie. Now I'm just going to throw my hands up in the air in frustration.
Apparently Georgie has a complex mythology and jumping into the middle of the series with this eighth book might have been a mistake.
October 14, 2018
One of thirteen picture-books, published from 1944 to 1983, that follow the adventures of a gentle little New England ghost, Georgie's Christmas Carol is a sweet send-up of Dickens' classic tale of holiday redemption. Scrooge, in this case, is named Mr. Gloams - a gloomy, crotchety old man who, alone amongst the villagers, despises Christmas - and his transformation, thanks to the letter to Santa written by his young niece and nephew, is effected, not by three ghostly visits, but by one. Georgie himself, of course, assisted by Miss Olive the owl, Herman the cat, and the harmless cow from next door!
Fans of Georgie will enjoy this holiday tale, with its charming, old-fashioned artwork - done in blue, with orange accents - and gentle tale of reviving the holiday spirit in the heart of one embittered old man. Although somewhat sentimental, I liked the fact that Mr. Gloams ends up being less villainous than lonely, and deeply dissatisfied with life. I don't know that Georgie's Christmas Carol ranks amongst my favorites, of Robert Bright's series - the initial volume, Georgie , and Georgie's Halloween hold that honor - but it is still an engaging book, recommended to younger children who like milder ghost stories, and sweet, old-fashioned holiday tales.
Fans of Georgie will enjoy this holiday tale, with its charming, old-fashioned artwork - done in blue, with orange accents - and gentle tale of reviving the holiday spirit in the heart of one embittered old man. Although somewhat sentimental, I liked the fact that Mr. Gloams ends up being less villainous than lonely, and deeply dissatisfied with life. I don't know that Georgie's Christmas Carol ranks amongst my favorites, of Robert Bright's series - the initial volume, Georgie , and Georgie's Halloween hold that honor - but it is still an engaging book, recommended to younger children who like milder ghost stories, and sweet, old-fashioned holiday tales.
August 10, 2018
Tony and Sara come to stay with their grumpy uncle, Mr. Gloams. Mr. Gloams doesn’t celebrate Christmas because he never got a sled from Santa when he was a kid. So Georgie and his friends are determined to help make Christmas special for the kids.
December 17, 2019
I had nothing else to do in class, so I read the two Christmas picture books I picked up for the students while here in Japan. It's a cross between A Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas with it's gloomy character just needing a bit of Christmas cheer to start being a better person. The illustrations were a bit busy and honestly don't know whether the ghost boy was invisible or not (though this does seem to be a character with other titles that might explain more). If I'd been raised with it as a Christmas classic, it likely would have rung with me better, but as is it feels lacking.
November 18, 2010
Monica Edinger responded to a blog I wrote about Halloween stories, recommending this picture book series about a ghost. I immediately read all eight "Georgie" books in my library and found him a fun character (which came first -- Georgie or Casper?) though the individual narratives were uneven in both storyline and writing. It's interesting to watch how the rather messy original illustrations -- all in blue! -- evolve to add other colors as the books progress over the years.
September 27, 2012
This story had a sweetness that I really enjoyed. I had heard about the book "Georgie." It was on some lists recommending Halloween books for children. I saw it was a series and this is the first one I have read. The illustrations are in blue and red and not very detailed, but still really liked the story.
January 2, 2015
The simple, happy spirit of the Georgie books is captured in this Christmas story. Helping Mr. Gloams to finally have the gift he once wished for is something Georgie and his friends can make happen - of course. Sarah and Tony write a delightful letter to Santa that sets the events of the story in motion.
March 24, 2017
For many years, I'd only read Georgie's Halloween, but am just now discovering the other books in the series. The illustration style is not my absolute favorite, but it does hold a strange magnetism to it and the stories themselves are adorable.
December 28, 2011
Another sweet Georgie story :-)
December 29, 2021
Little Georgie the ghost is a relic of my childhood, yet, this book is new to me. It isn't the classic "A Christmas Carol" story line that features so often in popular story.
It does offer the perennial tale that a disappointment in one's past can cause a great amount of bitterness into adulthood. It's remembering that innocence, and being joyful that we need to always keep in mind so that we can share that with others, so as not to dwell in our discouragement.
It does offer the perennial tale that a disappointment in one's past can cause a great amount of bitterness into adulthood. It's remembering that innocence, and being joyful that we need to always keep in mind so that we can share that with others, so as not to dwell in our discouragement.
December 10, 2023
Children's books don't get better than Georgie in my world. This one is perfect for the season - and again, the illustrations are fantastic!
January 2, 2026
We love Georgie!
December 5, 2015
This book is a great addition to your holiday shelf. If you loved Georgie's Halloween, hunt for this Christmas retelling of Scrooge's classic tale. Why is Mr. Gloam so grumpy? Can George erase his holiday memory as a child of not getting a special gift under the tree? Georgie's sweet caring ways and the wonderful illustrations in this classic picture book will bring the Christmas spirit to your house!
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April 29, 2013Christmas sticker
April 29, 2017
Robert Bright's books about Georgie the ghost are amazing. I've read them all! His illustrations are fantastic. Very nostalgic.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews