It's a Wonderful Life for Kids! by Jimmy Hawkins, Douglas B. Jones (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Based on the classic 1946 movie, this story follows Tommy Bailey through childhood as he and the familiar townspeople of Bedford Falls embody all the values of the film. Doug Jones's illustrations "nicely convey the tale's old-fashioned wholesomeness." —School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

Jimmy Hawkins, who played Tommy Bailey in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, brings that story to a new generation in his It's a Wonderful Life for Kids!, illus. by Douglas B. Jones. Vintage illustrations re-create the ambience of the film's time period, while the tale zeroes in on Tommy as the main character, rather than George, his father, played by Jimmy Stewart. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Written to honor the 60th anniversary of the film by the actor who played Tommy Bailey, this "original" story places his character in the limelight while merely rehashing the plot of the movie. As a young boy, he, like his father George, intervenes in a few situations to improve the course of people's lives. Then, at 11, Tommy misplaces the money that his sixth-grade class collected for the library fund and, feeling desperate, runs to the town bridge, wishing he'd never been born. Magically, a novice angel appears to show him how many lives he has touched, and the rest is predictable. The film's charitable themes are adequately transposed to the book, and the illustrations nicely convey the tale's old-fashioned wholesomeness. However, with a film as beloved and widely available as this one, it is hard to imagine why anyone would need this rather superfluous book. Gathering up the family and watching the holiday classic has sufficed for the last 60 years; it might be just as good a choice now.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The actor who played the youngest son in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life here creates a sequel of sorts, focusing on his character of Tommy Bailey, now 11 years old. He's a fine young lad, helpful to others in many ways, but one day he misplaces an envelope of money raised to buy new library books at his school. In a panic, he runs away, stopping at a bridge in a snowstorm and, like his father before him, wishing he had never been born. The plot reprises the lessons learned by George Bailey in the movie, with an angel assigned to help Tommy, leading him back to his family. The well-written story can stand on its own but will be best appreciated by those who have seen the movie, as there are references to Clarence the angel and other characters and places from the film. In his polished illustrations, Jones does an excellent job of capturing the familiar Bailey family and '50s-era Bedford Falls, with a folksy view of small-town life. Fans of the film will find this a wonderful treat to add to their seasonal ritual. (Picture book. 6-9)

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