Author: Delia Huddy
Illustrator: Emily Sutton
This simple story is a good choice for Christmas time. It is not the usually jolly Christmas story, It has an important message. While lots of people are looking forward to presents and time with family, there are some people out in the world who are not able to have these things.
This nicely illustrated picture book tells the story of a little fir tree who hasn’t grown as big or strong, as the other trees. One Winter, it is taken to the city to be sold but no one wants to buy him. All the people want the bigger prettier trees.
Then just before closing time on Christmas Eve, a homeless boy asks the shopkeeper if he can take the poor little tree. It is only going to be thrown away so the shopkeeper agrees. The boy takes the tree and plants it in a cardboard box then decorates it with a few candles. Under the bridge, where the hoy sleeps, other homeless people gather around the little tree to share in the spirit of Christmas Eve.
This is a good story to read especially at Christmas time. Sometimes we need to be reminded about the things they are really important and that not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy a warm, comfortable Christmas in their own home.
The book encourages readers, young and old, to be tolerant of people snd things. It helps us to be a bit more thoughtful. Sometimes we could all be a bit kinder and help others even in small ways. The boy sees that the tree can bring happiness even when the grown-ups think it is ugly and worthless. The shopkeeper is kind and gives away the tree, which would only have gone to waste but ends up making a lot of people very happy not just on that day but for years into the future.
My score: 4/5 🎄
The Library Mouse Tales 