Maple & Willow's Christmas Tree

Maple & Willow

by Lori Nichols

Lori Nichols’s delightful book celebrates the bond of two nature-loving sisters, and their ability to find fantastic kid-powered solutions to any problem—and it will give allergy sufferers an extra reason to celebrate.
 
Maple and Willow love trees—and now they are getting their first real Christmas tree. It is going to be the best Christmas ever! After a snowy expedition to pick out the perfect tree, it’s time to decorate. But whenever Maple gets near the tree, she starts sniffling and sneezing. Could she really be allergic to the perfect Christmas tree? And if so, how will the girls find a way to make this the best Christmas after all?

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2016

Reviews

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing sister saga. Poor Maple is allergic with the Christmas tree. Willow needs to figure out how she can help her sister and still save Christmas 🎄

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maple and Willow, two sisters who love nature and each other, are warm characters who live simply but truthfully. No splashy costumes, no high adventures, they enjoy a simple life of togetherness and there is a great comfort in visiting with them and sharing in their moment. In this case it is picking out the perfect Christmas tree, a natural one, for the first time. And oh the joy UNTIL it is discovered that Maple is allergic to the tree. Maple is sad that she has ruined Christmas and Willow, also feeling sad, doesn't think about his sister's feelings....at first. But then, like most of us, in the middle of the night, a thought comes to her and all is resolved. Will this be a classic, who knows but it deserves a reading in all families about how to care for each other, "fix" things that get broken (maybe just for a moment) and the value of simplicity in solutions and celebrations. I'm still smiling thinking about it.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never thought I'd read a book in which the oldest sister (or even just anyone) ruined Christmas for her younger siblings by being allergic to the real Christmas tree — just like I did many years ago, when we already had lights on the tree and everything. It's a distinctive situation, and not one you would anticipate seeing in the cheery pages of a picture book, but it's gratifying to see that unfortunate aspect of life not only recognized but portrayed with humor and kindness.

Life with allergies is tough. Cute picture books make it more bearable.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about two sisters who bring home a Christmas tree only to discover that one of them is allergic to it. The solution is decorating a Christmas ladder.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good holiday story about pine Christmas tree allergies, kindness and hard work.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extra star for the lovely illustrations.

[Morton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas, sibling relationships, charming - Emma

[Margaret]

Every year in December, for those who observe Christmas, an ancient tradition is followed. We trudge through woods and fields. We walk through rows and rows of possibilities. Or we open a box. Whether you get a fresh selection or put together an artificial likeness, the Christmas tree holds a prominent place in the celebration. Every single one of us has at least one if not more stories about this holiday custom.

There have been those less than financially secure years where the tree looks like a Charlie Brown tree. There have also been those years through unfortunate choices where the tree needs to be wired to the wall to avoid late night crashes. (It certainly didn't look that crooked before we cut it down.) Some years extra trees find a place in our lives. Now each year there will be an outside potted tree in the back yard, lighted in honor of my wonderful dog, Xena. In the spring it will be planted to grow and give hope to our environment.

Two tree-loving, endearing characters who we have grown to cherish in Maple, Maple & Willow Together and Maple & Willow Apart have returned in a new release. Maple & Willow's Christmas Tree (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, October 18, 2016) written and illustrated by Lori Nichols is a delightful journey of joy. These sisters exemplify pure hearts.



My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uh-oh! Maple starts sneezing whenever she's around the Christmas tree - it calls for some creative and thoughtful sister love.

It's a sweet and unexpected ending.

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story featuring Maple and Willow. They have a very sweet relationship, and this book offers a nice twist on traditional holiday stories. After getting their first live Christmas tree, it turns out Maple is allergic and the tree has to go. How will Willow react?

Parents will love reading this story to siblings who may not be getting along. It shows that you can be disappointed when things don't go your way, but family is more important.

I gave the book four stars because it has an original plot featuring allergies and how those can affect children celebrating a holiday. Maple and Willow teach some good lessons.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot be objective about Maple & Willow books. I simply adore them. Maple and Willow remind me of my two daughters and their love and support for one another coupled with their sibling spats. My "Maple" is allergic to Christmas trees too, but she's not happy we switched to a "fake" tree. Perhaps we should have tried a Christmas Ladder instead! Lori Nichols, please keep finding more trees for these girls. I'll never tire of them.

*Love the glass pickle ornament for the snowman's nose! :)

[Morgan Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our go-to picture book series right now include Maple & Willow (to learn about kindness and inclusion), Tallulah (to learn patience and kindness), and Fancy Nancy (to learn to be happy no matter how high our expectations were). We love them all!

[Amy Allgeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, I love these two! :)

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, cute story.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sassy! I love the random critters to find.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm allergic to pine, too, Maple! This book soothed something in my childhood soul.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and sweet! Definitely the first Christmas picture book I’ve read that included a character with a Christmas tree allergy, which is fairly common.

[A Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked "Maple" by Lori Nichols so, when I saw this title at the public library, I was hopeful. This book starts off with Maple and Willow being excited about Christmas and picking the perfect tree together. "I'm so glad we got rid of our fake tree," says Willow, which I found odd. Why comment on fake trees at all? It seems unnecessary to suggest that a "real" tree is better than a "fake" tree. Then, it turns out that Maple is allergic to Christmas trees! When Maple apologizes for ruining Christmas, Willow hurts her feelings by responding, "I'm sorry you ruined Christmas, too." Then Willow decides to decorate a ladder in an attempt to cheer up Maple. On the back cover of the book's dust jacket, there is a photo of the author and her husband with their first "Christmas ladder" in 1999. I am not sure what the lesson of the story is, if there is one, and I feel the storyline could have been better, unfortunately.

[Maexo♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the sweetest books that I have read in a really long time. I love any picture book with a Christmas theme, but my heart just melted when it was about two sisters and their Christmas tree adventure; it made me think of my little sister and our holiday moments. The illustrations are so whimsical and I loved how Maple and Willow are drawn. There is so much attention to detail, especially in the forest. You can see deer, and the trees are all so cozy and picturesque. You can also see what a sweet older sister Maple is and how cute and fiesty Willow is. And although fiesty, Willow knows how to cheer her sister up and make a Christmas miracle come true.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maple and Willow are excited to get their first real Christmas tree! But when they bring the tree home, Maple starts to sneeze! The tree has to go and Willow is angry that her sister has ruined Christmas! Maple feels bad that she’s ruined Christmas and worse when her sister gets upset. A sweet surprise at the end shows that the sisters understand what’s really important.
This is a cute story to talk about sibling relationships. Maple and Willow have a realistic sibling relationship-they love each other but sometimes they upset each other too! The illustrations are adorable as well!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I wish you weren’t allergic to Christmas.”

Maple and Willow are incredibly excited about getting a real tree for Christmas this year. But when they get the tree home, Maple can’t stop sneezing and it turns out, she’s allergic to the Christmas tree. The girls are very upset: Maple feels like she has ruined Christmas and Willow angrily agrees. But in the middle of the night, Willow begins to feel bad for being so mean to Maple. And she comes up with a plan to help them both feel better.

Sweet.

[Nanci Booher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's time for a real Christmas tree and when Maple and Willow go searching, they think they have found the perfect tree. Once it is inside however, Maple starts to sneeze the it seems that she is allergic to tree. At first Willow is upset and says something not so nice, but then she realizes her mistake and she finds a way to make it up to Maple. Another sweet sweet Maple and Willow and story!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically the Christmas version of the other books in the series. In it, two close siblings are getting ready for Christmas, until one discovers that she is allergic to real Christmas trees, and the other is upset about having to move their tree outside for the allergic one. The angry one says something unkind to the allergic one, later feels bad, and makes up for it. These books are simple and delightful. Good for younger audiences. Beautifully illustrated.

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it weird that I feel accomplished reading all the Maple & Willow books? Now I can confidently say I like the first book best.

In this final installment, it's the holiday season and the girls are fighting, as usual: this time because Maple is allergic to the Christmas tree. A sweet resolution ensures we leave the sisters on a happy note.

My only quibble was the rendering of the blurry snow on the pine trees. It triggered my astigmatism.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story presents a clever solution to Maple’s allergic reaction to the Christmas tree, though not before a white pine has been sacrificed to replace the hypoallergenic fake tree with no regard for the conifer’s important role in the forest ecosystem and the mitigation of climate change. How ironic that the girls are named for trees. Cute illustrations camouflage ethical implications of the girls’s choice.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super sweet story about sisters and the first I’ve ever read about someone being allergic to Christmas trees. As a child I was incredibly allergic to Christmas trees and can so sympathize with the feelings Maple experiences. I love her solution. It is certainly more creative than anything I ever tried.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel for Maple. I, too, am allergic to real Christmas trees. I do like how they say she's "allergic to Christmas" though. It is a very typical kid thing to say. The fact Willow feels sorry for hurting her sisters feelings is a typical contemporary subject. The fact Willow is able to do the thing she does a little fanciful, but a nice touch for commenting on the true meaning of Christmas.

[Joy Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Written by 8 year old Charlotte*
This book was great, but 1 thing silly is that the 2 kids speak pigglaten which always ends in a "ay" and kids speak it as a secret code and the word is backwards. I did not really know this until my mom told me or else it would be confusing. But this book was 10 star worth!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet nature-loving sisters called Maple and Willow. And, thank goodness, they're human children, not trees.

Right from the first page (brilliantly illustrated as well as written by Lori Nichols), I fall in love with these kids.

As for the ending? I love-love-love it.

Though no spoilers from me. I want to do all in my power to support this FIVE STAR read.

[Ryn Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maple & Willow are getting a real Christmas tree for the first time when they discover Maple is allergic.

The stories in this series are all very simple and cute and sweet. This one is no different. I wouldn’t call it a holiday standout, but it’s a fun story to read. Fans of the series will love it, and newcomers will probably still find it appealing. Three stars.