A family gathers to observe the Russian traditions of Christmas.

It was sweet until the end, which totally spoiled it for me. Sorry. ( )

Uncle Vova's Tree was a great read. It really depicted how Polacco feels about her cultural background and how important family and family traditions are. This book like many of Polacco's other books focuses on her family traditions that she recalls. During Epiphany, every January, Patricia and her brother, two cousins, and her grandparents would go to her uncle's farm to celebrate in the Russian tradition. Uncle Vladimir "Vova" helped the kids make paper stars, then took them for a sleighride to the barn to make strings of berries and popcorn to put on the tree. Every year they would make a special tree at the farm for the wild animals. They had berries and popcorn and sweet grains for the animals. After they decorated the tree, Uncle Vova said they must do this every year even when he is gone. When they returned to the farmhouse they continued with traditions such as, filling bowls for family members that were no longer with them, through some food out the window for Grandfather Frost, and then said a blessing and began their feast. This was their last Christmas with Uncle Vova, and a bittersweet memory for Patricia Polacco. They next year they continued with tradition, even though Uncle Vova was not with them. When they were sitting at the table Patricia's brother remembered the tree. They had forgot to decorate the tree for the animals like they did every year. The kids quickly put their coats on and ran outside to decorate Uncle Vova's tree. When they ran outside, they saw all the animals decorating the tree. The birds brought berries, while the rest of the animals made their way toward the tree. They knew that although Uncle Vova was not with them physically he was there in spirit. Once again, Polacco's beautiful illustrations and story lets the reader feel the emotion of her memories. She is a fantastic illustrator and writer. ( )

The Christmas season was always a happy time at Uncle Vova's. With the sweet scent of evergreen in the air, the many different kinds of kutya - a traditional Russian porridge made of wheat or rice, with honey, poppyseeds, raisins and nuts - to eat, and beautiful paper stars to make, there was no end of fun and pleasure. But the real magic always came last: the night-time sleigh ride, and the decoration of Uncle Vova's tree with berries and popcorn, intended for the local animals. Planted the year he and Aunt Svetlana first emigrated from the Old Country, the evergreen was an important part of the holiday tradition at Uncle Vova's. But when his family faced their first Christmas without him, they forgot all about the tree. Was it too late to honor the tradition...?

Like so many of Patricia Polacco's picture-books, Uncle Vova's Tree was an engaging mixture of happy childhood memoir, and poignant familial drama. The accentuated sense of sadness that the holidays bring, when a loved one has died, is sensitively captured by the author, but so too is the strength of family tradition, and the miraculous possibilities of the season. A brief introductory note makes it clear that this is a story from Polacco's own childhood, which surprised me, as I had thought (as per The Trees of the Dancing Goats) that her family was Jewish. Perhaps they were both? In any case, this lovely holiday tale is a gentle reminder that, for some, this is a time of miracles... ( )

A celebration of Russian tradition and family.