What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas Tree!
If you were
a Christmas tree,
what kind of tree would you be?
A mighty tree or a tiny tree?
A city tree or a country tree?
A tree with curious features or a tree
made just for creatures?
Voyaging from cities to plains and in renderings of things miniature to grand, Wendell and Florence Minor lead young readers on an imaginative journey across America in tribute to one of our most beloved symbols -- the Christmas tree.
a Christmas tree,
what kind of tree would you be?
A mighty tree or a tiny tree?
A city tree or a country tree?
A tree with curious features or a tree
made just for creatures?
Voyaging from cities to plains and in renderings of things miniature to grand, Wendell and Florence Minor lead young readers on an imaginative journey across America in tribute to one of our most beloved symbols -- the Christmas tree.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 3, 2018
"Christmas is here! Imagine that you are a Christmas tree. What kind of tree do you think you could be?" And so begins the sing-songy narrative of Florence and Wendell Minor's Christmas Tree!, a picture-book celebration of the eponymous arboreal holiday decoration. From a tree-balloon made for a city parade to a real tree standing outside in the snowy world, all sorts of Christmas trees are depicted. Eventually though, the best tree turns out to be... the one we (the readers!) use to celebrate the holiday...
Unlike some other online reviewers, I found the text in Christmas Tree! somewhat weak. There was nothing wrong with it, exactly, but it didn't make a strong impression on me, either way. The artwork, on the other hand, was interesting, with its adept use of a bold, deep color palette and its many creative arboreal scenes. I think my favorite involved the birds flying in tree formation over the buffalo herd. I'm not sure to whom I should recommend this - perhaps Wendell Minor fans? - but all in all, I can't say this one makes for a particularly memorable holiday title.
Unlike some other online reviewers, I found the text in Christmas Tree! somewhat weak. There was nothing wrong with it, exactly, but it didn't make a strong impression on me, either way. The artwork, on the other hand, was interesting, with its adept use of a bold, deep color palette and its many creative arboreal scenes. I think my favorite involved the birds flying in tree formation over the buffalo herd. I'm not sure to whom I should recommend this - perhaps Wendell Minor fans? - but all in all, I can't say this one makes for a particularly memorable holiday title.
December 31, 2019
Christmas Tree!
I didn't really like this, with the format of constantly asking readers questions. It starts off asking what kind of tree do you want to be, and I expected to be asked about the kind of tree species, like fir and whatnot, or color and size. But it went off on a tangent, a wild ride that was too out-there.
One featured a lit Christmas tree on top of Lady Liberty's torch. There isn't a tree on the torch, so that was just weird. The next was a tree to fit in a wall and it showed a triangular piece of cheese on a stand like a tree and mice were around it. That didn't work for me either.
The next were costume trees in a play, which could actually work. The next was a tree acting as a light in a lighthouse. A tree could never light up enough to direct ships, and it wouldn't be in the lighthouse tower, so I didn't like it, even though the lighthouse illustration was cool.
There was a tree balloon in the parade. Geese formed a tree shape as they flew and not only do geese not fly in that formation (they fly in a V), that's not a tree! It just kept getting further away from Christmas and actual trees.
The best page was the little sailing ship with two strands of light going to the top mast, forming a triangle. There was a crescent moon and starry sky. The tree was way up on the air on top of the mast and I could not fathom why/how the tree would be up there and not on the deck.
The dogs had a tree with dog-themed ornaments. It was just a Christmas tree with things like bones and fire hydrants. What kind of a tree is that? Then cats for their own, a triangular net full of fish caught in the ocean, and a cat with its tongue out wearing a Santa hat. Horses got one with carrots, apples, and sugar cubes. They're just regular trees! Gosh the ideas really petered out.
The page with the snowman holding up a tree was so cute. It's the cover and I loved the igloo and the sweater-wearing snowman.
It got crazy as a dolphin jumped out of the water balancing a tree on its nose. Again, how would this be possible? It isn't. Come on, there had to be better, more realistic ideas than this!
And then it went "No! The best tree of all is the one that is mine!" What? You ask us what kind of tree we want to be, and then say the best tree is the narrator's. What happened? How did it go from asking he what we wanted to be to judging the best tree? It was so random. So you want to be your own tree...?
I liked the facts at the end about the earliest recorded Christmas trees in various places and when decorations were used. It's cool that in the 1890s there was a tradition that Santa brought kids trees with their toys on Christmas Eve.
I liked all of the rows of simple triangular trees all over the inside pages. I didn't care for the storyline or format, but the images were okay.
I didn't really like this, with the format of constantly asking readers questions. It starts off asking what kind of tree do you want to be, and I expected to be asked about the kind of tree species, like fir and whatnot, or color and size. But it went off on a tangent, a wild ride that was too out-there.
One featured a lit Christmas tree on top of Lady Liberty's torch. There isn't a tree on the torch, so that was just weird. The next was a tree to fit in a wall and it showed a triangular piece of cheese on a stand like a tree and mice were around it. That didn't work for me either.
The next were costume trees in a play, which could actually work. The next was a tree acting as a light in a lighthouse. A tree could never light up enough to direct ships, and it wouldn't be in the lighthouse tower, so I didn't like it, even though the lighthouse illustration was cool.
There was a tree balloon in the parade. Geese formed a tree shape as they flew and not only do geese not fly in that formation (they fly in a V), that's not a tree! It just kept getting further away from Christmas and actual trees.
The best page was the little sailing ship with two strands of light going to the top mast, forming a triangle. There was a crescent moon and starry sky. The tree was way up on the air on top of the mast and I could not fathom why/how the tree would be up there and not on the deck.
The dogs had a tree with dog-themed ornaments. It was just a Christmas tree with things like bones and fire hydrants. What kind of a tree is that? Then cats for their own, a triangular net full of fish caught in the ocean, and a cat with its tongue out wearing a Santa hat. Horses got one with carrots, apples, and sugar cubes. They're just regular trees! Gosh the ideas really petered out.
The page with the snowman holding up a tree was so cute. It's the cover and I loved the igloo and the sweater-wearing snowman.
It got crazy as a dolphin jumped out of the water balancing a tree on its nose. Again, how would this be possible? It isn't. Come on, there had to be better, more realistic ideas than this!
And then it went "No! The best tree of all is the one that is mine!" What? You ask us what kind of tree we want to be, and then say the best tree is the narrator's. What happened? How did it go from asking he what we wanted to be to judging the best tree? It was so random. So you want to be your own tree...?
I liked the facts at the end about the earliest recorded Christmas trees in various places and when decorations were used. It's cool that in the 1890s there was a tradition that Santa brought kids trees with their toys on Christmas Eve.
I liked all of the rows of simple triangular trees all over the inside pages. I didn't care for the storyline or format, but the images were okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2017
A cute book about Christmas trees. Even though it's May, when my son saw it in the library, he just HAD to read it. :)
It had Christmas trees and what they would look like to different animals. A cheese tree for mice. A tree decorated with apples, carrots, and sugar cubes for horses. A fish in a net tree for cats, etc. A quick read with cute pictures.
It had Christmas trees and what they would look like to different animals. A cheese tree for mice. A tree decorated with apples, carrots, and sugar cubes for horses. A fish in a net tree for cats, etc. A quick read with cute pictures.
January 1, 2020
I really liked the lighthouse tree that lit up the night. Instead of a lamp at the top of a lighthouse, there was a Christmas tree at the top, shining out.
The tree where the buffalo roam was surprising
I also loved the tree on top of the sailboat. It's also strung up with lights and the moons there too.
Unexpected to have a dog tree, and a cat tree, which was fish strung up,& then a horse tree with carrots and sugar cubes.
It ends with the best tree of all is the one that is mine.
I loved the facts at the end.
The oldest recorded Christmas tree is from Germany in 1551.
Decorations started as candy, fruit and nuts.
Candles were used to kith up trees in 1708.
The first recorded tree in america was 1746.
I guess in the end I was a little disappointed that it was a bunch of questions about what kind of tree you'd be. But also kind of fun to think about what kind of tree fits you.
The tree where the buffalo roam was surprising
I also loved the tree on top of the sailboat. It's also strung up with lights and the moons there too.
Unexpected to have a dog tree, and a cat tree, which was fish strung up,& then a horse tree with carrots and sugar cubes.
It ends with the best tree of all is the one that is mine.
I loved the facts at the end.
The oldest recorded Christmas tree is from Germany in 1551.
Decorations started as candy, fruit and nuts.
Candles were used to kith up trees in 1708.
The first recorded tree in america was 1746.
I guess in the end I was a little disappointed that it was a bunch of questions about what kind of tree you'd be. But also kind of fun to think about what kind of tree fits you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2021
I read this book to my 3 month old as a 25 days of Christmas reading tradition. This is such a cute read with big bold letters and beautiful pictures of different trees. I also like the trivia facts at the end of the book.
September 6, 2024
Adorable illustrations but no plot. Each page is a different kind of Christmas tree - one held by the statue of liberty, a tiny one for mice living in a wall, on a lighthouse, the top of a boat, one made for dogs/cats/horses, etc.
December 25, 2024
The Minors present a look at some wild and crazy Christmas trees in this imaginative book. The paintings are the star attraction here, and they serve as a gentle reminder that not everyone celebrates the holiday in the same way.
December 11, 2020
Story itself wasn't anything spectacular, but I enjoyed reading the Christmas Tree history at the end of the book.
December 9, 2025
Ideas of types of trees for different people and places- with some real historical examples. Fun for thinking about what Christmas celebrations look like in different places.
January 13, 2017
Read at Baby/Toddler Holiday Story Time on 12/15/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Preschool story time on 12/14/16: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Preschool story time on 12/14/16: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
December 16, 2011
I love this book and so did the kids. The simple rhyming language and colorful illustrations are great, but I especially love all the different kinds of Christmas trees: one on top of a sailboat, one just for horses, another made of cheese for mice. Adorable.
December 27, 2011
Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes and can be found in almost any setting, but there is only one "best" Christmas tree.
December 7, 2012
a fun rhyming book! My kids loved all the different kinds of trees. They liked the cat tree with the fish on it the best. A fun way to see christmas through different eyes
January 9, 2013
This book is full of fun trees. My kids liked the tree for cats the best.
December 13, 2013
GR Level: NA
Elementary: E MIN
There are so many different places that have so many different kinds of Christmas trees. Read this book to see a few.
Elementary: E MIN
There are so many different places that have so many different kinds of Christmas trees. Read this book to see a few.
December 18, 2013
There are so many different places that have so many different kinds of Christmas trees. Read this book to see a few.
December 20, 2013
Nice idea/concept, but I didn't love it. The rhymes just didn't do it for. The best part of the book was the Christmas Tree trivia at the end.
September 4, 2014
My daughter thought this was a fun book and enjoyed saying "no!" after each question until she found a Christmas tree she liked.
Read
January 20, 2015Loved the illustrations. Just like beautiful paintings. Short, interactive text, perfect for storytime.
December 18, 2015
This book had very nice illustrations and some fun facts about Christmas trees at the end.
February 4, 2016
Perfect for sharing with toddlers. I love how the rhyming text encourages little ones to imagine creative Christmas trees.
January 7, 2017
This would be a good Christmas read for young kids, who would enjoy acting out the different types of trees and animals.
September 2, 2015
I love that the text is displayed as a "tree" (triangle) on each page.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews