A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A MERRY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY REVIEW

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

BY CHARLES DICKENS and

CHUCK FISHER

A POP-UP BOOK

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This beautiful re-imagining of Charles Dickens's timeless fable, A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book features artist Chuck Fischer's richly painted depictions of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, brought to life in intricate pop-up scenes by paper engineer Bruce Foster. The entire text of A Christmas Carol is reproduced in five removable, illustrated, keepsake booklets. An introductory booklet provides a biography of Dickens and an illustrated feature on the enduring appeal of this beloved story. The perfect gift, A Christmas Carol, now in pop-up form, will brighten the holidays for young and old.

ABOUT CHUCK FISHER:

Soon after graduating with a BFA in Advertising Art from the University of Kansas, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in the creative arts. First I tried the acting biz. I had countless walk-on parts on the soap opera All My ChildrenStardust Memories, but I was a victim of the proverbial "lost on the cutting room floor". Time to re-evaluate my "acting career", and what I thought would be my "big break" in the movies, I was chosen by Woody Allen for a speaking part in one of his movies.

Fortunately, friends of mine working in the rarified world of high-end interior design, encouraged me to take on decorative painting projects. I was soon commissioned to design and paint murals in some of the finest residences in the world. One of the first things I learned working with America's top decorators, (Sister Parish and Albert Hadley in particular) and their clients, was the importance of a library full of illustrated books for reference and inspiration.

I started building my collection of illustrated books, (numbering in the hundreds today) and as Thomas Jefferson said, "I cannot live without books".

There isn't a design project of mine, from my china patterns for Lenox, to my wallpaper and fabric collections at Brunschwig and Fils and Schumacher that hasn't started with me looking at books.

Today, much of my creative energy is focused on creating unique pop-up books filled with my illustrations, photographs, historical facts and information. My first two pop-up books dealt with American architecture, but my new book, CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK is somewhat of a departure and a harbinger of new projects to come.

Each spread in my pop-up book offers something new and exciting through illustrated 3-D pop-ups that are representative of meticulous research and knowledge of historic art and design. In addition to using my own collection of books for research and inspiration, I spent a great deal of time at the library at the Cooper Hewitt Museum perusing their vast collection of illustrated pop-up books dating from the 13th century, and I have always had good luck finding unique images at the New York Public Library's Picture Collection.

The official websites of venues that I featured in the book were most helpful. www.metmuseum.org; www.nycballet.com; www.amnh.org; www.ndm.si.edu/; www.rockefellercenter.com; www.radiocity.com; and www.nybg.org

Chuck Fischer is a New York City artist whose paintings hang in some of the finest residences in the world. Many of his designs are in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. He is the author of two previous pop-up books, The White House and Great American Houses and Gardens.

Visit Chuck in his virtual New York studio.

MY REVIEW:

Although everyone must know Charles Dicken's classic holiday tail, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, I am fairly sure you haven't seen it in just this way. With Chuck Fisher's fabulous artistic talent, he has made this book/story, a totally different experience. As you watch the amazing scenes literally unfold before your eyes, you can help but wonder at the kind of talented mind that can think in 3D! As each cherished scene comes to life, you will relive the joy of Christmas through new eyes. I adore Fisher's work and have started collecting all his book like this to pass on to my grandson when he is old enough to enjoy without tearing it up. This is the gift that keeps on giving and on today, the joyous Christmas day, I hope you all get a chance to look at and own one of Chuck's books soon...especially A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As Tiny Tim tells us so convincingly in the story, "God Bless us every one! 

From Bingo and Ms. M, "May your days be merry and bright! And may all your Christmases be white"...and always filled with good books to read! 

...Karen 

Thanks to Anna and the good friends
at Hachette Book Group for a copy
for review purposes. My review is my
own thoughts and no other form of
compensation has been given.