The Christmas Tree that Loved to Dance

by Miranda Hart, Lucy Claire Dunbar (Illustrator)

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the bestselling author of I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You comes a joyful, hilarious and heartwarming story of a seemingly ordinary woman, her beloved dog and a forgotten but friendly Christmas tree . . .

Hello to you. I have written a short story, or Tall Tale as I like to call it, because I believe we all deserve moments to cosy up with something simple yet joy-filled and uplifting. If I may be so bold about my own tale!

It contains, amongst many thrills I couldn’t possibly divulge yet, intriguing and exciting mishaps between a Christmas tree that not only talks, but dances (I know!); a dog called Jessie, who also talks, and a woman called Joan, who – less surprisingly, in that she is a human being – talks too. Interested? I should blooming well hope so!

Right, let me tell you all about it . . .

Miranda Hart 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Humor, Short Stories

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

Miranda Katharine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972), known professionally as Miranda Hart, is an English actress, writer and stand-up comedienne. She writes and stars in the BBC sitcom Miranda. She also appeared in French and Saunders, the BBC television series Hyperdrive and her semi-autobiographical sitcom Miranda Hart's Joke Shop on BBC Radio 2. In 2012, she began appearing in the BBC drama Call the Midwife as Camilla (Chummy) Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a funny and endearing novella and it is perfect for the holiday season. I am a huge fan of Miranda Hart and this book has made me love her even more. I will be rereading this for many holiday seasons to come!

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical festive quirky read

This is a quirky and fun festive read but it’s hard to review as it feels like a wonderful children’s book in someways but is it at aimed at adults - a fable for adults to just be yourself. The voice of Miranda Hart shines through. A stocking filler of a gift ..just give into the Yuletide theme and have fun. Lucy Claire Dunbar’s illustrations are an absolute delight

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, gentle and lovely with an underlying message about kindness and caring for others, whether they be trees, animals, or people. Charming little book.

[Evelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original , beautiful drawings 👌

[DaisyReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story, quick ready, funny and fully of Christmas joy with a little hope wrapped up.

[Luisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholesome christmas book in November? Don't mind if I do

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickest easiest read. Fun, interesting. Perfect for a quick Saturday morning read.

[Caitlin Stemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little heart felt story, absolutely adore Miranda hart!

[Rhia Perks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute little book and the illustrations are gorgeous

[Pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely cute Christmas short story !

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, little festive read! 🎄🥰

[Arianne Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little Christmas novella. Really enjoyable quick read and Lucy’s illustrations are a joy!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A very quick, light and heartwarming story. I do enjoy Miranda’s talkative writing style, it feels like you are sat by a fire and being read the story by her.

[Beccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, silly and heartwarming 🩷

[Holly Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little Christmas book!! And very exciting because Miranda reposted my Instagram story of me reading it 🤩

[Rachel_loves_to_read · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was certainly a tall tale.

[Anna Druery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mirandas writing so naturally I had to read this as soon as it came out. such a lovely tale accompanied with such joyful illustrations

[Becky’s Booknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, wholesome, festive read 🎄

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5/5

The writing was light, entertaining and thought provoking. It was a joy to read. Whilst it took me a couple of sittings, you could easily sit and read it in one.

There weren't any chapters as such, but there were blank pages every so often splitting the story up. I enjoyed the illustrations dotted throughout the book. They added extra life to the words.

There was an interesting pace and flow to the book. As there weren't any specific chapters you went straight through the story. There were little off shoots of thoughts and commentary which were interesting. They added an extra layer to the story. These little off shoots also slowed you down and made you appreciate the story more.

The characters were cute. I loved the main character's relationship with her dog and how we got to see her vulnerabilities overcome with her sense of doing the right thing. I would quite happily read more about all of the characters mentioned.

Lastly the settings. Whilst it was a character focused story, there were some nice little details about the surrounding area, which grounded the story well.

Overall a lovely, thought provoking read that would make a wonderful Christmas present.

[Thilini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute Christmas story about a kind-hearted woman, a talking dog, and a talking Christmas tree! It leaves you with such a warm, cosy feeling.

I absolutely love Miranda Hart, especially her role in the sitcom Miranda. Her Christmas episodes are something I watch over and over again, and if you’re familiar with the way she explains things in the show, she uses that exact same tone in this book. I could almost hear her voice in my head as I was reading!

I really loved the story. It beautifully shows how kindness pays off, how we shouldn’t jump to conclusions, and why you should never judge a book by its cover. That said… I did love the cover of this book, it’s gorgeous and made me feel happy just holding it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute and funny little book. I could hear Miranda’s voice in my head the whole time I was reading it. (I’ll have to look as see if there is an audiobook if this and hope Miranda herself is reading it as that would be awesome)

I also love trees! And love Christmas trees 🎄
I have a fake tree and as sad and crazy as it is I aways thank it for bringing me joy and tell it its times to rest again but that I look forward to bringing it back out next Christmas. So Miranda having the trees talk was so lovely ☺️

I loved it and was just what I needed. The artwork is beautiful too I love the style and the colours

Thank you Miranda for writing this lovely little book it brought light to the cold dark January blues.
I love you Miranda you’re awesome xox

[Judy Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical and festive story and will be added to my seasonal reading along with Christmas in Exeter Street and The Glass Angels.
It is amusing and heartwarming and so often I could hear Miranda’s voice shining through the text. A talking Christmas tree, named Poodle tree , a dog called Jesse who also talks and Joan and the two strange men who in the end aren’t strange but kind. Joan was very keen to collect all the abandoned trees in the streets and bring them into her home. She discovers that the men have saved the trees to give them a new life in a woodland clearing and are magically reborn.

[Holly Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little book to read over an evening or two with a hot drink by the Christmas tree! The writing screams Miranda Hart - I found myself hearing her voice as I read and wishing I'd listened to it as an audiobook. That being said, I would have then missed out on the illustrations, which are beautiful!
The storyline is quirky and took me a minute to get on board with but once you embrace your inner child the silliness and playfulness of this book takes you somewhere a bit magically that we don't often visit with adult books.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet enough story, but what really sets this apart is the beautiful delicate illustrations play someone I followed on Instagram for a long long time. The only thing that irritated was there’s a paragraph about seeing winter robins. (Robins aren’t just for Christmas! ;-)) and a group of blue tits (a banditry -so named because of mask like markings around their eyes) but the birds drawn are I’m not quite sure what. Missed opportunity Lucy!

Can’t quite work out whether it’s written for children or not…

[Mary Beth Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a cute little Christmas story which was perfect for starting off my Christmas reading! I am a huge fan of Miranda, and I absolutely love how you can hear her as you read. The writing is full of her phrases and character, which makes it a joy to read! It is a fairly short story, but I think reading The Christmas Tree that Loved to Dance will become a new tradition that I can't wait to share with my family. If you love adorable Christmas stories with some important messages woven in, I highly recommend this book!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming, light read to relieve some of the seasonal stress. I was really looking forward to it, but I either psyched it up too much or I've read Hart's first book and watched her TV show so many times that I felt there were a lot of repeats and similar themes going on. the illustrations were beautiful as to be expected by Lucy Claire Dunbar. The concept of the tale though is very original and there is nothing but innocence in it.

[Tracey Pearce · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I have said before I love Miranda Hart and especially the series Miranda however i do not have the same feeling as reading her books I have read her 2 non fiction and did not like them as i found them patronizing. This is classed as a Xmas book but set just after Christmas in January and again i found her patronizing.. It is aimed at Adults and really i think it is aimed at children (apart from the drunk and menopause references) and the illustrations are not really for adults. I mean who thinks xmas trees talk to them. I have Peggy and me to read but after that then its no more Miranda Hart for me. Doesnt help she never replied to my X post

[Lorna Bromwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joan and her dog Jessie try to save all the christmas trees being thrown out onto the street in the new year.
Such a cute and wholesome short story. I definitely read some of it in Miranda's voice! If you love her humour then this is the book for you. And even the kindle version is filled with beautiful sketches.

Themes
🎄Christmas Trees
🧑‍🎄Weird is Wonderful

[Ryan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It does exactly what it says on the tin, a proper cosy, heart-warming winter read. Definitely a kids book but I really did enjoy it as an adult. Reminds me of the bedtime stories my parents used to read to me and felt just as wholesome reading it myself. Perfect for an easy, quick read on a lazy, de-stressing weekend.

P.S absolutely loved the drawings!!

[Victoria Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little festive read especially for those of us who took so much comfort from Miranda sharing her journey with chronic illness in her previous book. It is a short story about a woman who begins on a mission to rescue discarded Christmas trees in January. She feels out of place and misunderstood. But she simply needs acceptance to find her joy for life again. Much like the trees.