A Christmas Carol Special Edition from Standard Publishing teaches values and lessons of Dickens' Christmas

Annotated book complements magic of Disney's new 3-D animated movie

CINCINNATI - Oct. 19, 2009 - Just in time for the nationwide release of Disney's A Christmas Carol, Standard Publishing has introduced a new annotated version of Charles Dickens' beloved tale. The film, starring Jim Carrey and directed by Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express, Back To the Future), may just breathe new life into the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The book - A Christmas Carol Special Edition - aims to provide even more insight into the meaning behind the 1843 classic.

The new edition includes the complete text of the book, along with insights, definitions, and discussion questions for groups and families. Author Stephen Skelton explores the 19th Century language and references to Christianity. Skelton's previous work includes producing a best-selling video-based Bible study series that includes The Mayberry Bible Study and The Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study.

Born an Anglican, Dickens drew on biblical stories to inspire his own writing. A Christmas Carol, written in 1843, was to be the first of several Christmas-themed books by Dickens, and according to some scholars, revived his later career. As a result of A Christmas Carol, such familiar expressions as "Bah! Humbug!" and "Merry Christmas" entered both the English and American vernacular.

Through annotations in the book's margins, author Skelton explores the themes of regret, repentance, and redemption in his study of A Christmas Carol, which offers opportunities for intergenerational and family discussion, in both casual conversation and formal secular and Christian classroom settings.

In Disney's A Christmas Carol, Carrey will play Scrooge, as well as the three spirits of Christmas that visit him. Academy Award®-winning director Zemeckis is expected to bring a "multi-sensory thrill ride...," according to a news release issued by Walt Disney Pictures.

A Christmas Carol Special Edition is available at local Christian bookstores, or online at www.standardpub.com/christmascarol.

About Standard Publishing

For more than 140 years, Standard Publishing has been raising the standard for true-to-the-Bible resources that educate, encourage, and enrich. The company is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it was founded in 1866. For more information, visit www.standardpub.com.