The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston

4.29 STARS from 981 GoodReaders

It would be difficult to find a more fulfilling Christmas story than this little work from out of the past. It has been around for quite a number of years now and there is a reason for that...it is simply good! Every so often you find a work where the text and illustrations completely blend and tell the story for each other and not only do you "hear" the story, but see and feel it at the same time.

The time is during the Great War, the war to end all wars, World War I. The place is in the Appalachian Mountains near a small community. A little girl's father, a person who she loves dearly, takes her into the mountains to find a perfect Christmas Tree for their church; it is their families turn that year to provide the tree. High on a mountain; a crag, the tree is found. Father and daughter will return to harvest it when the time is right.

Ah, but before Christmas, father is called to war; he is gone. His last promise is that the tree will be provided by his family. Time passes. The Father does not return. Finally, the train which is carrying all the returning men from the area pulls into town. The father is not on it.

Christmas is closer and closer. Will the tree be provided?
 

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THE SKINNY:::
This is truly a heartwarming story and catches the true spirit of Christmas so very, very well. It is the story of sacrificing, giving and pure love.

From a historical angle, the author has captured the period perfectly. I was absolutely delighted to come across words and terms such as "poke," "crags," "britches," and so many more. The author has capture the people and culture of that day, time and place perfectly. We will see days like that no more, but we have and will see the same emotions raging through families. This story is oh so pertinent to our current day and time, our current wars, and the families caught up in them. Times where hard then, and times are hard now, but that is no excuse not to love and believe with an intense and dignity; to feel the true spirit of Christmas and all it means.

I recently heard this work read to a class by a wonderful teacher. I tell you, the hair on the back of my neck actually twitched. I had not read or listened to this story in quite a number of years but the words kept flowing into my memories like they had been etched there upon the first reading.

Do yourself a favor folks, get this one and read it to a child...hey, read it to yourself if no wee one is available...you will be richer for it.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks


The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story
by Gloria Houston
Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)

Reading Information:
Word Count: 2,460
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader: 4.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 699
Lexile: AD600L
--amazon
--sample pages available

updated by Pam
November 2014