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happylilkt's review against another edition
5.0
October 2023: Read this aloud to my children on the way back from looking at fall color in the scenic Columbia River gorge. The same things that cracked me up as a kid make them giggle and I catch a quiet smile from my husband--so. much. joy.
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"Years and years ago, when I was a boy, when there were wolves in Wales, and birds the color of red-flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills, when we sang and wallowed all night and day in caves that smelt like Sunday afternoons in damp front farmhouse parlours, and we chased, with the jawbones of deacons, the English and the bears, before the motor car, before the wheel, before the duchess-faced horse, when we rode the daft and happy hills bareback, it snowed and it snowed."
In my childhood, my father would read this to our family at LEAST once a year at Christmas time. My father was Welsh American and loved his Welsh heritage, so reading this to his children was a labor of love. He also had a wonderful narrator's voice: a deep, rich, actor's voice that dwelled lovingly on poetry and prose.
The humor, the crackling style of Thomas's writing, the nostalgia of a Christmas that you never experienced (and that in all probability Thomas never did either) are all present and Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations are at her best.
We now read this with our children with layered nostalgia—it is still one hundred percent joy to read aloud Thomas's beautiful language matched only by the tenderness of missing my daddy.
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"Years and years ago, when I was a boy, when there were wolves in Wales, and birds the color of red-flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills, when we sang and wallowed all night and day in caves that smelt like Sunday afternoons in damp front farmhouse parlours, and we chased, with the jawbones of deacons, the English and the bears, before the motor car, before the wheel, before the duchess-faced horse, when we rode the daft and happy hills bareback, it snowed and it snowed."
In my childhood, my father would read this to our family at LEAST once a year at Christmas time. My father was Welsh American and loved his Welsh heritage, so reading this to his children was a labor of love. He also had a wonderful narrator's voice: a deep, rich, actor's voice that dwelled lovingly on poetry and prose.
The humor, the crackling style of Thomas's writing, the nostalgia of a Christmas that you never experienced (and that in all probability Thomas never did either) are all present and Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations are at her best.
We now read this with our children with layered nostalgia—it is still one hundred percent joy to read aloud Thomas's beautiful language matched only by the tenderness of missing my daddy.
sportula's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
When one of my book groups chose this title for our December meeting, our hostess got her hands on a recording of Dylan Thomas himself reading this tale. We sat enraptured as little children and listened to the whole thing.
carrvan3's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lambageddon's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful listening experience. Reminiscent and sweet (and funny at moments!), it reminded me of my own childhood Christmas memories.
valerie87's review against another edition
5.0
A Child’s Christmas in Wales — written and narrated by the incredible Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
“She said the right thing, always. She looked at the three tall firemen in their shining helmets, standing among the smoke and cinders and dissolving snowballs, and she said: “Would you like anything to read?”
I LOVE this poem. Brings back memories of Christmas and makes me laugh so much. I recommend it to everyone.
“She said the right thing, always. She looked at the three tall firemen in their shining helmets, standing among the smoke and cinders and dissolving snowballs, and she said: “Would you like anything to read?”
I LOVE this poem. Brings back memories of Christmas and makes me laugh so much. I recommend it to everyone.
mrsmobarak's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first exposure, I think, to Dylan Thomas' work. It was sweet and full vivid metaphorical imagery. I just might read it again around Christmas.
aliciagriggs's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely, atmospheric Christmas book that I've read every December since I was given it. Small but full of beautiful illustrations (some colour, some black and white) and a touching story about a child's nostalgic memories of Christmas in Wales.
michy7's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Thomas' work inspires me because the imagery, rhythm, and flow is the language of song.