Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Holiday Picks: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

With snow in the forecast, temperatures dropping, and people digging out their mittens and hats, it's officially December!  Enjoy a holiday pick each day before Christmas.

By Robert Barry.  New York: A Doubleday Book for Young Readers, 2000.

Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree arrived by special delivery - it was fresh, it was full, and it was the biggest tree he'd ever seen.  Once it is put in the parlor, he realizes that it is too big - the top is bent!  So, the top is snipped off.  The top is presented to Miss Adelaide, the upstairs maid.  When she puts it on her table, it's too big, the top is bent, so she snips it off and puts it in the trash.  Timm, the gardener discovers it, and not wanting the little tree to be thrown out, takes it home.  But, his wife doesn't need to whole tree, so she cuts off the top and throws it out the window.  And so on, the top is snipped off until it's just right for a little family of mice.  "Oh, wasn't it grant to have a tree - exactly like Mr. Willowby?"

This adorable book is perfect to share with preschoolers.  They will love the repetition of the story line and seeing how the tree gets smaller and smaller, and how each family celebrates with their tree.  The illustrations are cute, and you can see the excitement when each character comes across the little tree.  What are some of your tree trimming traditions?

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