5 comments about An Ornaments' Tale.

1. Author and illustrator Chet Spiewak uses film quality computer-generated 3D graphics to create his unique picturebook story of a colorful cast of Christmas ornaments who go on an adventure to find the perfect holiday tree. Trapped in an attic and all but forgotten, Percy, Stanley, Fiona and the rest of the Christmas ornaments embark upon their quest. Along the way the rather timid Percy gains confidence and the trust of his companions, all while teaching some old Halloween adversaries the real meaning of Christmas. This wonderfully illustrated and delightful Christmas 32-page picturebook is an enthusiastically recommended addition to family, grade school, and community library collections.



2. The illustrations in this book are stunningly impressive, their three-dimensional appearance and exquisite detail are sure to catch and hold the eye of the youngster. The people at CWS studios, who specialize in 3D design sketches and artwork, are to be commended. Once I completed the book, I immediately went to their website to see what other books that the company has helped create.
   The story is about a set of Christmas tree ornaments that can't wait for the Christmas season to get here so that they can once again spread their message of cheer. However, due to some dirty tricks by the Halloween ornaments, they are placed aside and forgotten. Their attempt to overcome this setback is one of struggle and triumph. The combination of the happy ending and the illustrations make this an excellent Christmas present for the child in grades 2-4.



3. Chet Spiewak has created a beautifully illustrated, well written book that fits perfectly into the season before Christmas, that time of year when parents search for stories that address the meaning of Christmas, the anticipation of the season, and the joy that culminates on Christmas morning. Yes, there are other tales such as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and 'Why the Chimes Rang' and some others that fill that need to build on the holiday without focusing on just gifts. Spiewak's fine little book sets the stage both for the excitement ahead and suggests traditions that children/families can build upon to make the holiday truly a meaningful event.
   
   The main characters are traditional Christmas ornaments stashed in the attic until the holiday comes. Each of the ornaments (beautifully rendered through the magic of computer generated graphics) begins to prepare for Christmas when they spy the Christmas tree brought into the house. They polish each other and prepare, only to find that they are pushed aside from the merriment of hanging on the tree - discarded from their moment of glory. Halloween ornaments frighten the Christmas ornaments and mock the fact that they are stuck in the attic until the little ornaments decide to share the meaning of gift giving with the Halloween ornaments. Then together the band of decor find a way to sneak down the chimney only to fall asleep before they can climb the tree. But Christmas morning arrives and the children of the home delight in the shiny sleeping ornaments, placing them in the most visible spot on the celebratory Christmas Tree.
   
   The tale is simple, but very well told and the lessons for children and adults are enough to make re-reading the book throughout the season a pleasure. Spiewak has a winner here. And now is the time to order this book to savor either as sentimental adults or with children - of all ages! Grady Harp, October 07



4. It is nice to see that in a world where entire movies are generated from computers that there are artists who can use that same technology and produce a eye catching book such as Chet Spiewak has down with "An Ornaments' Tale" (Notice that the title is both plural and possessive). The tale begins with Percy, a wooden toy soldier, sees through a hole in the attic floor that the Christmas tree has finally arrived for this year. The elf ornaments make sure all of the ornaments are all dusted and shiny before they go back into their ornament box for the trip downstairs. However, the Halloween ornaments, who only know about tricking and scaring, not joy and cheer, decide to come up with a trick or treat surprise for the Christmas ornaments, and it looks like Percy and his friends might miss Christmas.
   
   Of course, that cannot be allowed to happen, and what I liked most about the way Spiewak works out his Christmas story is that once you accept the idea of talking animated Christmas tree ornaments, most of what happens in this story tends towards the realistic rather than the fantastic (e.g., ornaments cannot hang themselves on a Christmas tree). I know that pretty much anything goes in such stories, but I appreciated Spiewak's logic as to what happens in this charming little story. The last page of the book shows some of the 3D design sketches and artwok from Spiewak's CWS Studios, showing story and character design sketches, along with some nontextured and textured renderings (if you check out the studio website there is a nice little promotional film, where the author throughs hubris to the wind and declares his book to be "a new holiday classic"; fortunately, I read the book first, so I can only chuckle at the quote).
   
   "An Ornaments' Tale" struck me as a mix of elements from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Toy Story" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which is not a bad thing, because this story does suffers little in such comparisons. Actually, the biggest problem in comparing Spiewak's book to those beloved animated films is that young kids will probably be disappointed to learn that they cannot get their own version of Percy, Topher, Crystal, Spencer, Fiona, and Stanley to hang on their Christmas tree this December. That kids (and their parents) would want real ornaments of these characters to hang on their trees would be just another indication of how this nice little story could become a personal Christmas favorite for those people who happen to stumble across it. I am glad I did and have salted it away with our Christmas ornaments so sometime in the next decade (or two) when grandchildren arrive on the scene I can read the book to them.



5. I don't know much about children, but I do know that they are sure to love Chet Spiewak's An Ornaments' Tale. Not only is the story quite good, the artwork is just dazzling. Every single page features incredibly vivid, 3-D images that truly bring the characters to life. In fact, I suspect very young kids will keep reaching out to touch each page - it really looks like you could just reach in and pluck any of these ornaments out yourself.
   
   In the story, a wooden soldier named Percy and his other ornament friends eagerly await Christmas, anxious to be taken down from the attic to hang on the tree and spread happiness all around. Imagine their shock and despair after finding themselves hidden away in a corner where no one will be able to find them. The Halloween ornaments laugh at their wonderful little trick, but Percy and his friends are heartbroken over the thought of missing Christmas. Realizing that the Halloween ornaments did what they did because they didn't know what Christmas was all about, Percy shows them that this holiday is all about giving, not playing tricks or getting treats. Spreading the Christmas spirit around to their new Halloween friends is a wonderful thing - but it doesn't get the Christmas ornaments any nearer to the tree downstairs. Could it be that they will still miss Christmas for the first time in their Christmas-devoted little lives?
   
   If there's a young child alive who wouldn't enjoy An Ornaments' Tale, he must be one ornery little fellow destined for nothing but a lump of coal in his stocking. The incredible 3-D images may be the real hook that keeps children coming back to this book time and again, but the wonderful story will always serve to remind them that there is a lot more to Christmas than Santa Claus and the presents he brings.

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