The Little Fir Tree, illustrated by Barbara Cooney.

Standing alone in a field, separated from the sheltering bulk of the trees of the nearby forest, a little fir tree leads a lonely life for his first seven years, before he finds himself uprooted one holiday season, and taken into a local farmhouse to be the Christmas tree of a little boy with a lame leg. After this magical experience, the tree is replanted in the field the next spring, only to be uprooted again in winter, forming a yearly pattern that the tree comes to anticipate. Then one winter no one comes to fetch him, and the tree wonders what has become of his yearly friends. The answer comes in the form of his own Christmas visit, as the little boy—now healed!—leads his friends in a singing procession to the tree's field...

The Little Fir Tree was originally published in 1954, in this edition, with artwork by the celebrated Barbara Cooney. I have long wanted to track it down, but discovered in previous years that only the newer edition, published in 2005 with artwork from Jim LaMarche, was available at my local library. I read and enjoyed that newer edition, but kept looking for this original one as well, given my fondness for Cooney's work. I am glad that I did, as I think her simple but immensely expressive artwork is perfectly suited to the story, ably capturing both its melancholy and joyful elements. I liked the incorporation of the music for a few Christmas carols, with lyrics adapted to the events of the story (I can't recall if this was done in the LaMarche edition as well), and I appreciated the vintage style here, with the limited number of color washes—red and green predominating, of course!—and those distinctive Barbara Cooney figures. Recommended to anyone looking for lovely Christmas stories for the picture book set, as well as to fellow Cooney fans. ( )

A rather predictable story. I like the artwork in this edition: simple but it evokes the feeling of the forest in winter well! ( )

The Little Fir Tree, illustrated by Jim LaMarche.

Growing all alone in an open field, and looking with longing at the older trees in the nearby forest, a little fir finds itself temporarily uprooted in this lovely holiday tale, brought inside a nearby home and made into a Christmas tree for a little boy who is bedridden. This tradition continues each year, as the tree is replanted in its meadow home, and then relocated every Christmas. Then one day the boy's father doesn't come, and the tree feels mournful... until a Christmas procession arrives, led by the little boy himself, apparently now healed and able to walk...

Originally published in 1954, with artwork by the celebrated Barbara Cooney, The Little Fir Tree was reprinted in this new edition in 2005, with new illustrations from Jim LaMarche. I have long wanted to read the original Cooney edition, but finding it unavailable at my library, requested this newer one instead. I found the story poignant and heartwarming, although I did find myself wondering why the tree had to be continually moved, rather than the boy. After all, the former has physical roots that are meant to keep it in place, while the latter could be bundled up against the cold and taken to see the tree, along with all of his friends. Leaving that aside, I did enjoy the story, and found the artwork absolutely gorgeous. I look forward to tracking down the Cooney original, in order to contrast and compare, but still recommend this one to picture-book readers looking for Christmas stories. ( )

The little fir tree by Margaret Wise Brown
Story of a little tree and it's life as it grows up and what it means to the little boy who gets it for a Christmas tree.
Great children's story from one of the best authors. They return the tree to the forest and sing carols and decorate the tree.
Poem about the holiday. Man who normally got the tree didn't come one year.
Great surprise for all.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). ( )

In an empty field not far away from the forest, a lone little fir tree grows. It often dreams of being a part of something, and one day its dream comes true. A man digs it up and takes it home to be a living Christmas tree for his bedridden little boy. The little fir tree quickly becomes the center of a very special celebration.

In the springtime, the little tree is returned to the field and allowed to grow until it is collected once again. But then one year the tree is left alone in the frozen field. Feeling forgotten and lonely, the tree is in for a surprise when it received a special Christmas visitor.

The Bottom Line: Margaret Wise Brown is well-known as the author of the classic book, Goodnight Moon. Here, she weaves a gentle tale of a treasured Christmas story. Together with Jim LaMarche's beautiful illustrations in warm hues, a new generation of children will learn about the true spirit of Christmas. This is a classic holiday tale that is sure to be read every year. Enthusiastically recommended for everyone.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )