The Angel Tree

by Robin Muller

The Angel Tree is the story of Kit, apprentice to the blacksmith Grimshaw. For seven long years, the boy has obeyed the demands and dictates of his tyrannical master. Kit's only pleasure is resting among the branches of an ancient tree that stands near the smithy--a tree he loves deeply.

One day, the trilling song of a sparrow attracts Kit's attention and looking up, he sees an angel. She explains that she needs Kit's help in keeping the tree from dying. Together they forge three magical tools--a dainty trowel, tiny shears, and a beautiful pitcher.

That night, Kit has a strange dream, and wakes to find the magical tools are gone. How will Kit keep the angel's tree alive?

The young boy's troubles are just beginning. He soon encounters a mysterious stranger, and has to face the wrath of Grimshaw and a raging fire. In the end, Kit learns the meaning of the angel's words, "Even in the deepest darkness, there is a silver thread of hope."

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 1997

About the author

He was an enterprising child who began his own small publishing house at the age of eight. His passion for storytelling continued into high school where he started a second, competing school paper named Exodus. Muller's paper featured creative writing by students including short stories, poetry, book reviews and paid advertising. Muller left high school at sixteen to make his living as an artist, in the Yorkville section of downtown Toronto. Muller enjoyed the six years he spent painting because "Art is self-indulgent as opposed to publishing books. Only one person has to buy a painting for it to be successful". (Writing Stories, Making Pictures, 234) Gradually, his interest in the fine arts waned and Robin Muller began looking for a new creative outlet. With his interest in narrative revived, he sought out a medium where he could marry his storytelling and illustrating abilities.

Muller's interest in children's books began in his teens, when he worked in a publisher's warehouse. He found the children's books so fascinating that he decided to try to write and illustrate his own book. However, his first book, Rupert's Star, was rejected by every publisher he sent it to. Disappointed by the publishers' responses, Muller waited ten years before he attempted another book. Muller was twenty-nine when his second book The Sorcerer's Apprentice, appeared in bookstores.

Reviews

[Sally Ito · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's December and around this time of year, I look for good childrens' books. The Angel Tree was a stumble-upon find in Value Village. While my daughter was busy perusing the clothing racks, I went to the books section and began rifling through the boxes containing childrens' books. So much junkity junk and bubble-gum riff-raff -- don't get me wrong, these have their place in children's literature -- but I wasn't finding anything compelling until I hit on The Angel Tree. This was definitely a picture book with a distinctive art style. But would the story be good? Turns out it was.

This story is a fairy tale of sorts. You know it because there is an angel on the cover, and the angel is a supernatural being. Why and when do angels appear in stories? They appear when there is cruelty, despair and evil in the world. Angels are for the souls who need them most. Kit is an orphan apprenticed to a heartless and cruel blacksmith. In the yard, is an ancient tree that Kit grows to love. The tree though is aging and decaying. One day Kit hears the song of a sparrow and is mesmerized. The blacksmith however does not care for the boy's idleness and attempts to chop down the tree that he perceives is so distracting to his apprentice. His attempt fails because the axe Kit gives him is dull. Kit has managed to dullen the axe by pounding its edge against an anvil before giving it to the blacksmith. Kit, therefore, saves the tree. For now.

It is in the saved-for-now tree that the angel first appears, the angel that was the sparrow. And it is to this angel that Kit confesses of his love for the tree and his desire to keep it alive and growing. And so the angel helps him by crafting tools for him. The tools -- a trowel, shears, and a pitcher -- are forged from broken remnants lying on the smith's floor; the tools 'were blacker than coal, but shot through with swirling strands of silver' for -- as the angel tells Kit -- 'even in the darkness, there is a silver thread of hope.'

By now, you have probably read enough in my summary to begin seeing the story as an allegory, so I won't narrate any further. Except to say that the tale doesn't quite take the path you think it will. For what is the trajectory of hope in a fallen world where people are cruel, angry and violent? The path is never straight forward, and it is a path shot through with elements of divine intervention. That is why the angel is there in the first place. But there are other interesting human characters in this story like the wandering Professor Cosmos that add another dimension to the tale, and it is these more magical elements that make the story fascinating for me as a reader. For the supernatural world contains more than just allegorical angels and devils.

I love story books like this one -- the illustrations are beautiful and well rendered -- and Robin Muller is a true artist, but also a very good storyteller.

[Cheryl]

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