For many, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a holiday tradition that has endured for over three decades. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), retold with the humor and charm of the Muppets, continues to capture audiences, and its legacy has since extended into other media, including “The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic.”
Written by Brooke Vitale, with artwork by Luke Flowers, the picture book adapts the film’s story into a format designed for younger readers. Instead of just using photographs from the movie, the illustrations reimagine the Muppet characters in animated form, allowing the whimsical personalities of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and others to shine on the page. This approach makes the story accessible to children while retaining the wit and warmth that makes the original film appealing (although you'll have to sing all the songs yourself!).
Related: Disney Park Launches New ‘Muppet Christmas Carol' Feature : Disney Fanatic
By translating the story into a children's storybook format, the book offers a different experience than watching the film, encouraging young readers to engage with the narrative in a hands-on way. It also provides fans of the movie a chance to revisit the story in a new medium, expanding the reach of this holiday classic beyond screen and stage.
Meanwhile, the film itself is back on the big screen, in select theaters in the US and in venues throughout the UK where it's being performed with a live orchestra for the fifth consecutive year. Whether the beloved 1992 film will ever find its way onto London's West End or New York's Broadway, or even into the Disney Parks setting, remains to be seen. But for now, the film and the wonderful storybook retelling are more than enough.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic” is available in most bookstores and online.
Which version of The Muppet Christmas Carol will you be enjoying this winter? Let us know in the comments down below!
