Charles Dickens: Scenes from an Extraordinary Life - Hardcover

Manning, Mick; Granström, Brita

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1847801870 ISBN 13: 9781847801876

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011

Synopsis

The extraordinary life and genius of Charles Dickens is brought alive for primary-age children by the author-illustrator team behind the bestselling What Mr Darwin Saw. Published to celebrate the bi-centenary of Dickens' birth, this beautifully and entertainingly illustrated 48 page picture book vividly dramatises his life, beginning with his birth in Portsmouth and early childhood near the docks in Chatham, and follows the young Charles through the hardship of working in a blacking factory at the age of 10 to his years at school and his early career as a reporter. Key incidents that inspired the later novels are described, and his marriage, family life, dramatic readings and tours of the USA are included. What emerges is touching portrait of a writer with amazing observational skills, a social conscience and a strong sense of drama. Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom specialise in fun, lively non-fiction picture books. They share the illustrations between them and mix up words and pictures in inventive and delightful ways. They have won many awards, including the Smarties Silver Award and the English Association Award. As well ast What Mr Darwin Saw, their recent successes include Tail-End Charlie and Taff in the WAAF.

About this title

Product Description:

Charles Dickens The extraordinary life and genius of Charles Dickens is brought alive for primary-age children by the author-illustrator team behind the bestselling What Mr Darwin Saw.

Review:

From the award-winning non-fiction team comes a dramatisation of Dickens' life told through a non-fiction picture book.

(Bookseller)

The eventful ups and downs of  the life of Charles Dickens, the best-selling author of his day, are told in words and pictures in this excellent introduction to the man and his works.

(Julia Eccleshare Lovereading)

Anyone who is familiar with Manning and Granstrom’s work will welcome this book as yet another stunning example of their meticulous research, detailed art work and highly informative text.

(Gill Robins)

Another wonderful title from this inspirational duo. The combination of words and pictures in their books is perfectly balanced and the way the speech bubbles take us through the story really keeps interest alive... Comic strips introduce us to each of his novels in a succinct but interesting way. An exceptional book.

(Parents in Touch)

We see how he got his inspiration for many of his stories from events in his own life which makes a good tale of its own.

(Primary Times)

An accessible introduction to the author's life and work for young children.

(Daily Mail)

An excellent companion text for children who are reading any work of Dickens as it gives an interesting and valuable insight into the life of this much-celebrated author.

(Ibby Link)

Mick Manning and Brita Granström take us through the whole life, and do so very wittily. The major novels are neatly summarised in strip cartoons, the visual style is vivacious, with spoken texts ballooning out of people's mouths, and there is a strong feeling of a life lived...anyone of any age who is interested in Dickens would gain something from this book: its verve and wit are infectious.

(Simon Callow New York Times)

This Scottish-based partnership has developed a quirky but highly effective way of mixing words and pictures that packs in a phenomenal quantity of information that the reader absorbs almost by osmosis. It is done in a way that is not only merely unforced but highly amusing and entertaining, and conveys their own infectious enthusiasm for the subject.

(Glasgow Herald)

• "The award-winning duo bring Dicken’s story to life for a primary-age audience, using comic-stips and facts."

(Fiona Noble The Bookseller)

About this edition

• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1847801870
• ISBN 13: 9781847801876
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Manning Mick, Granström Brita