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Overview
A broken chain, a piece of string, a bottle cap . . . To most people, these things are useless trash. But to a clever crow, they're just what he needs to create a special surprise--a beautiful Christmas tree that everyone can treasure.Told in jaunty rhyme by Kathi Appelt and lavishly illustrated by Jon Goodell, this heartwarming story of people brought together by a very unexpected artist has all the makings of a Christmas classic.
A busy crow flies around town picking up all kinds of discarded items and uses them to create a beautiful Christmas tree.
Synopsis
An enterprising crow creates a unique Christmas tree in this heartwarming holiday story.
Publishers Weekly
Someone else's trash is a crow's Christmas treasure, as proven by one industrious bird with a surplus of holiday spirit. As a crow flits about the snowy city on what seems like an urgent scavenger hunt, no one knows his mission. That is, until passersby spot a special avian-friendly fir tree in the park-decked as only a fellow bird could do it. Toe-tapping rhyming verse tinged with gentle suspense teams with crisp oil paintings in which nature's inhabitants outshine the human onlookers. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"Appelt's rhyming text provides the strong, spare framework of this satisfying picture book while leaving plenty of space for the illustrator to create the setting and the mood. Goodell takes full advantage of the opportunity, using oil and acrylic to paint a series of beautiful scenes showing many facets of a town in full pre-Christmas bustle. Studded with intriguing details, these narrative pictures lead up to a quiet yet satisfying climax."—Booklist "The simple story exudes the warmth of the holidays on each page."—Children's LiteraturePublishers Weekly
Someone else's trash is a crow's Christmas treasure, as proven by one industrious bird with a surplus of holiday spirit. As a crow flits about the snowy city on what seems like an urgent scavenger hunt, no one knows his mission. That is, until passersby spot a special avian-friendly fir tree in the park-decked as only a fellow bird could do it. Toe-tapping rhyming verse tinged with gentle suspense teams with crisp oil paintings in which nature's inhabitants outshine the human onlookers. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
A crow flies through a Christmas scene of a city in the snow. Terse verse describes his travels through yards, past the zoo, gathering bits and pieces of shiny things as he goes. He even picks up a ribbon bow and mistletoe. The city's Christmas parade marches across a double page, folks go to church across another, as the crow continues his collecting. He finishes his flight, having decorated a "perfect Christmas tree" for all to gather around and enjoy. Opaque acrylic paints produce modeled forms, naturalistic detailed scenes crowded with typical seasonal activities. In each setting we see the crow busy at his scavenging, until he is finally joined by a group of carolers and other friendly birds enjoying the decorated tree. The simple story exudes the warmth of the holidays on each page. 2005, Harcourt, Ages 3 to 7.—Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz