The Littlest Evergreen: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

by Henry Cole, Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Overview

The littlest evergreen lived a quiet life on a peaceful hillside. Then one December evening, everything changed. . . .

Henry Cole’s The Littlest Evergreen sends a beautiful and timely message about nurturing life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061146190
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/27/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children’s books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack’s Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside, where he can sketch and write. His favorite sound is the first robin song of the spring. You can visit him online at www.henrycole.net.

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children’s books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack’s Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside, where he can sketch and write. His favorite sound is the first robin song of the spring. You can visit him online at www.henrycole.net.

Editorial Reviews

Bucolic expanses of evergreen forest and closeups of woodland creatures may give readers new appreciation for that quintessential seasonal decoration.” — Publishers Weekly

“A fine Christmas choice with an environmental message.” — School Library Journal

“Through a clear, engaging text and lush yet lively illustrations, Cole celebrates embracing that which makes us unique in a narrative that also focuses on respecting nature.” — The Horn Book

From the Publisher

Through a clear, engaging text and lush yet lively illustrations, Cole celebrates embracing that which makes us unique in a narrative that also focuses on respecting nature.

The Horn Book

This tale is narrated by an anthropomorphic, talking Christmas treethat describes its life cycle from seedling through a Christmas season as a decorated tree and then on to full growth as a tall evergreen.

The tree marks its growth through all sorts of weather and recounts the different birds that have nested in its branches. One year, in late fall, workers with chain saws cut down the surrounding trees, but the narrating tree is too small, so it is dug up and taken to the sales lot as a living tree. A family purchases the tree, decorating it for Christmas and then planting it in their yard. The final illustration shows the immense, full-grown tree, who has had "a long and beautiful life." Ascribing human emotions to the narrator tree strains credulity, and the sadness attributed to the cut trees will make anyone with that sort of tree in the house feel guilty. Serviceable illustrations in double-page spread format adequately support the text, but the narrating tree never truly takes root as a real character.

Talking Christmas trees really aren't a good idea for a children's book.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews