The Little Christmas Tree

A fine tale to read before heading out to pick a Christmas tree.

PreS-Gr 1--Six pine trees are excited for Christmas as they look forward to being decorated and bringing joy to children over the holiday season. Four of the trees are selected by a baker, a greengrocer, a butcher, and a hairdresser, while the mayor takes the largest tree to adorn the center of town. Only Little Tree is left in the tree lot, its branches drooping in despair, losing hope that someone will choose it for Christmas. Just as the lot is closing, an old man selects Little Tree. The tree is disappointed, as it doesn't seem there will be decorations and children in its future. But readers will cheer for Little Tree and its most important role in the holiday as it goes for the ride of its life. Originally published in Belgium, this book contains collage and paintings blended to create engaging pictures that youngsters will want to study for their soft textures, tiny details, and appealing colors. VERDICT Intriguing artwork and a cheerful story combine in a sweet Christmas tale for very young children.--Maryann H. Owen

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In this tale translated from German, a tiny evergreen dreams of being a Christmas tree. Standing among the other evergreens, Little Tree expresses his wish, but the other trees enumerate the many reasons he won't be chosen: He can't hold many decorations or lights, there's room for only one gift underneath him, and big families prefer big trees. Sure enough, the vendor loads all the trees—Thin, Knotty, Big, Prickly, and Old—except Little Tree onto a truck...until the others make a space just big enough for him. Little Tree still worries, though, that the bigger trees were right. One by one, each of them gets chosen, until only Little Tree is left as the lot closes. But just then an older man with a long white beard arrives for Little Tree, reassuring him that though it may seem like decorations, children, and gifts aren't in his future, things are not always what they seem. While this tale is a little light on story, the message is a sound one. The evergreens in Wielockx's sweetly appealing cartoon illustrations have round green faces near their tops and spiky trios at the ends of their branches, one on each side standing in for arms with hands. Some of the trees appear to have root balls still attached. Both the vendor and the old man have light skin; other buyers are diverse. A fine tale to read before heading out to pick a Christmas tree. -Kirkus Reviews