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Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect
Long, long ago, in a land far away, lived a perfect little tree named Small Pine. Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. But as the warm-hearted little tree gave shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer in the forest, its branches became damaged. Fortunately, the Queen had a different idea of perfection... Young readers will want to read and reread the story of how Small Pine's love and charity for its friends helps make it the most "perfect" Christmas Tree of all. This magnificently illustrated story of a warm-hearted Christmas tree will surely become one of the most beloved classics of future generations. Schneider's storytelling will enthrall children and adults alike.
30 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
December 8, 2023
Poignant and inspirational, this wonderful children's book tells a story of compassion and selflessness. Beautiful illustrations enhance the story.
December 19, 2024
2016 rating: 3
A perfect little tree is visited by animals in need of shelter and food. The result: a tree that no longer looks perfect ... but it has a history.
2024 rating: 2
an odd mix of nature, royalty, and religion
The nature is totally anthropomorphic -- trees think and control their growth; a wren can permanently bend a branch; a rabbit taking shelter at the base of a tree can destroy the shape of the tree.
Within seconds a queen can despise a tree (really?) and then love it.
And finally this tale is pulled together because of God's love.
Hmm ...
December 31, 2016
I thought this was going to be an inspirational, heart-warming tale to show readers that perfection doesn’t exist and flaws are okay, something like that. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and it’s always deflating when books don’t meet your expectations.
There was way too much writing so it was too time-consuming. It didn’t make me want to read because it required too much time. Some of the pages were entirely full of words. The first page was bothersome. The old pines tell the young ones that they’ll never be perfect. It was just kind of weird; it sounded like a put-down or something. And it’s a lie that long ago all evergreens were perfect. Perfect doesn’t really exist, and beauty is subjective, so, yeah….And anyway, I didn’t understand the point being made. That trees grew differently in the past? They didn’t have drooping branches or gaps? That long ago trees didn’t have the obstacles they have today? Because long ago there were animals, and they grow the same today as they did then. It’s a pet peeve of mine when authors steer kids wrong and mislead them. I have a problem with an author writing that trees used to be perfect in the past, but now they’re not. Like what are you talking about? That’s totally false.
I thought it was really cool that it mentioned the Carpathian Mountains in Europe, because I’ve read Christine Feehan’s Dark series and the people are from that area. I don’t know how much kids are going to get out of the “Carpathian Mountains in Europe” though. Apparently all the trees used to grow perfectly there with the right conditions. I also don’t think kids would know or get anything out of the tree being cut on the first Saturday of Advent. I did think it was cool how the queen’s woodsmen chose the tree.
It kind of irritated me that the author wrote that the trees tried to grow their needles and branches to perfection. I understood the point that’s going to be made, that perfection is overrated and unachievable, but saying that tree can choose how they grow is stupid and wrong.
I just found it inane and so annoying that Small Pine listening as a seedling to the old pines who knew what was best for saplings and decided to be the most beautiful tree of all. Like that’s a choice that can be made. He tried so hard to grow right that that’s exactly what he did, because apparently wanting to look a certain way means you can just do it. And pointing out that it had heard jealous whispers from other trees wasn’t a point in its favor, and saying he didn’t listen, because he knew “if one did one’s very best, what anyone else said didn’t matter” didn’t cancel it out either. It sounded like bragging as soon as I read it.
I guess it had to be done to further the plot, but saying that trees could close up their branches to deny an animal seeking shelter was wrong and misleading. It was a setup for why the rabbit chose Small Pine. He lowered the branches to shield the rabbit from the dogs, like branches can throw a pack of dogs off a scent…but anyway, it was nice of him to help the rabbit out while it was in danger, risking its limbs to do so.
The next morning he discovered his branches wouldn’t rise all of the way, so those limbs were uneven. He didn’t worry about it because he thought the woodsmen wouldn’t notice.
Trying to picture trees clenching their branches like a fist was a bit of a stretch. A tired, wet wren sought shelter and once more Small Pine was the only one to help out. He let her into his branches, but when she left he discovered a gap in them. The next day a hungry fawn needed to eat the trees to survive. Trying to wrap my head around trees being able to withdraw their needles so he couldn’t eat was a struggle too. He let the deer eat from him but his branches were ragged after.
I found it odd that Small Pine listened to the bad things they had to say about him, that he looked bad, but he didn’t listen to when they were jealous and probably said good things about him. Seems like the point would be not to listen when people said bad things about you, because it doesn’t matter what they think. Seems like it’s backward in here.
I don’t like figurative language like this in kids books: “A flush of anger filled her.” That’s writing for adults, not kids. Kids are literal. They’re going to be like what is a flush of anger? And how unlikable that made her to get mad that such an “ugly” tree was even allowed to be in the royal forest! It was so ridiculous to make her so hateful towards the tree for being imperfect, so much so that she wanted to chop it down immediately, and then literally the next page have her do a 360 and decide to have it in her castle. She saw animal tracks under the tree and a feather in its branches and understood what it had done to get in this shape.
It was such a huge stretch that the Queen and her family saw the nibbled branches and gaps and saw the loving arms of their dads and laps of their moms and the Queen saw the “love of Christ expressed on earth.” That is quite a huge statement to make about a tree that’s been eaten off of. A little too dramatic.
I did like the point he made about if we look at evergreen trees we’ll notice drooping limbs and gaps or ragged branches from where animals have rested, eaten and taken cover in them. It inspired an appreciation and understanding for trees that have imperfections. Now if I see a tree with gaps and bald spots and limbs that sag, I can imagine the animals that might have used it. It’s a good point to be made because Christmas trees are all about finding the right one that looks the best, and looks aren’t everything.
The line “For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.” That gives a lot for the reader to think about. I like books with lessons and inspiration, that looks aren’t everything and it’s about who you are inside and how you treat others that matter.
I wish the writing had been better, like this last sentence only throughout the book. I didn’t care for having trees consciously decide how to grow, as if they could determine whether or not they looked good. I wasn’t crazy about the illustrations. They were a little too old-fashioned for me. A lot of things got on my nerves and it wasn’t that enjoyable to me.
There was way too much writing so it was too time-consuming. It didn’t make me want to read because it required too much time. Some of the pages were entirely full of words. The first page was bothersome. The old pines tell the young ones that they’ll never be perfect. It was just kind of weird; it sounded like a put-down or something. And it’s a lie that long ago all evergreens were perfect. Perfect doesn’t really exist, and beauty is subjective, so, yeah….And anyway, I didn’t understand the point being made. That trees grew differently in the past? They didn’t have drooping branches or gaps? That long ago trees didn’t have the obstacles they have today? Because long ago there were animals, and they grow the same today as they did then. It’s a pet peeve of mine when authors steer kids wrong and mislead them. I have a problem with an author writing that trees used to be perfect in the past, but now they’re not. Like what are you talking about? That’s totally false.
I thought it was really cool that it mentioned the Carpathian Mountains in Europe, because I’ve read Christine Feehan’s Dark series and the people are from that area. I don’t know how much kids are going to get out of the “Carpathian Mountains in Europe” though. Apparently all the trees used to grow perfectly there with the right conditions. I also don’t think kids would know or get anything out of the tree being cut on the first Saturday of Advent. I did think it was cool how the queen’s woodsmen chose the tree.
It kind of irritated me that the author wrote that the trees tried to grow their needles and branches to perfection. I understood the point that’s going to be made, that perfection is overrated and unachievable, but saying that tree can choose how they grow is stupid and wrong.
I just found it inane and so annoying that Small Pine listening as a seedling to the old pines who knew what was best for saplings and decided to be the most beautiful tree of all. Like that’s a choice that can be made. He tried so hard to grow right that that’s exactly what he did, because apparently wanting to look a certain way means you can just do it. And pointing out that it had heard jealous whispers from other trees wasn’t a point in its favor, and saying he didn’t listen, because he knew “if one did one’s very best, what anyone else said didn’t matter” didn’t cancel it out either. It sounded like bragging as soon as I read it.
I guess it had to be done to further the plot, but saying that trees could close up their branches to deny an animal seeking shelter was wrong and misleading. It was a setup for why the rabbit chose Small Pine. He lowered the branches to shield the rabbit from the dogs, like branches can throw a pack of dogs off a scent…but anyway, it was nice of him to help the rabbit out while it was in danger, risking its limbs to do so.
The next morning he discovered his branches wouldn’t rise all of the way, so those limbs were uneven. He didn’t worry about it because he thought the woodsmen wouldn’t notice.
Trying to picture trees clenching their branches like a fist was a bit of a stretch. A tired, wet wren sought shelter and once more Small Pine was the only one to help out. He let her into his branches, but when she left he discovered a gap in them. The next day a hungry fawn needed to eat the trees to survive. Trying to wrap my head around trees being able to withdraw their needles so he couldn’t eat was a struggle too. He let the deer eat from him but his branches were ragged after.
I found it odd that Small Pine listened to the bad things they had to say about him, that he looked bad, but he didn’t listen to when they were jealous and probably said good things about him. Seems like the point would be not to listen when people said bad things about you, because it doesn’t matter what they think. Seems like it’s backward in here.
I don’t like figurative language like this in kids books: “A flush of anger filled her.” That’s writing for adults, not kids. Kids are literal. They’re going to be like what is a flush of anger? And how unlikable that made her to get mad that such an “ugly” tree was even allowed to be in the royal forest! It was so ridiculous to make her so hateful towards the tree for being imperfect, so much so that she wanted to chop it down immediately, and then literally the next page have her do a 360 and decide to have it in her castle. She saw animal tracks under the tree and a feather in its branches and understood what it had done to get in this shape.
It was such a huge stretch that the Queen and her family saw the nibbled branches and gaps and saw the loving arms of their dads and laps of their moms and the Queen saw the “love of Christ expressed on earth.” That is quite a huge statement to make about a tree that’s been eaten off of. A little too dramatic.
I did like the point he made about if we look at evergreen trees we’ll notice drooping limbs and gaps or ragged branches from where animals have rested, eaten and taken cover in them. It inspired an appreciation and understanding for trees that have imperfections. Now if I see a tree with gaps and bald spots and limbs that sag, I can imagine the animals that might have used it. It’s a good point to be made because Christmas trees are all about finding the right one that looks the best, and looks aren’t everything.
The line “For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.” That gives a lot for the reader to think about. I like books with lessons and inspiration, that looks aren’t everything and it’s about who you are inside and how you treat others that matter.
I wish the writing had been better, like this last sentence only throughout the book. I didn’t care for having trees consciously decide how to grow, as if they could determine whether or not they looked good. I wasn’t crazy about the illustrations. They were a little too old-fashioned for me. A lot of things got on my nerves and it wasn’t that enjoyable to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2015
I liked this story. It's a legend about why Christmas trees are not perfect... Long ago, in a royal forest, it was the pride of the trees to be chosen as the Queen's Christmas tree. Little Pine aspired to such an honor and tried very hard to be perfect. The other trees were jealous of how lovely Little Pine was ... until Little Pine takes pity on a rabbit seeking a hiding place from a hunt, a wren seeking shelter from a storm, and a starving fawn in need of nourishment. The tree shows compassion to each in their time of need, and as a result the branches droop, there's a gap, and he is no longer so lovely looking. His hopes of being chosen are dashed. The queen, however, is surprised to see such a sorry looking tree among all the lovely trees in her forest. Although at first she is disgusted, she takes a closer look and understands immediately what the tree has done. She saw that the drooping branches were shelter and protection for the weak, and that the nibbled pine was food for the hungry. The tree's kindness, compassion, and self sacrifice reflected the love of Christ on earth, and that is what made the tree the most beautiful choice in the Queen's eyes.
December 31, 2015
A deceptively simple tale of how a "perfect" tree gives up hope of being picked as the most beautiful tree, the one chosen to stand in the place of honor for the Christmas advent. All because acts of service to small creatures of the forest have taken a toll on the perfection the tree once possessed.
Two quotes I particularly liked:
"Everyone who danced and sang around it said that Small Pine was the finest Christmas tree yet. For in looking at its drooping, nibbled branches, they saw the protecting arm of their father or the comforting lap of a mother. And some, like the wise Queen, saw the love of Christ expressed on earth."
"So if you walk among evergreens today, you will find, along with rabbits, birds, and other happy living things, many trees like Small Pine. You will see a drooping limb, which gives cover, a gap offering a warm resting place, or branches ragged from feeding hungry animals. For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God."
Two quotes I particularly liked:
"Everyone who danced and sang around it said that Small Pine was the finest Christmas tree yet. For in looking at its drooping, nibbled branches, they saw the protecting arm of their father or the comforting lap of a mother. And some, like the wise Queen, saw the love of Christ expressed on earth."
"So if you walk among evergreens today, you will find, along with rabbits, birds, and other happy living things, many trees like Small Pine. You will see a drooping limb, which gives cover, a gap offering a warm resting place, or branches ragged from feeding hungry animals. For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God."
January 9, 2017
I wanted to save this closest to Christmas, because it looked good.
But alas, someone requested it.
I like the legend feel it has to it on the first page.
'If you listen very carefully to the whisper of the wind, you can hear the older pines telling the younger ones why they will never be perfect.' Whoa they'll never be perfect!? That's sad.
'They will always have a bent branch here, a gap there...'
It has you wondering what happened to evergreens for them to lose their shape, like a curse.
I like the time period this is in and the fairy tale aspect of it. & the castle.
I like that the trees seen to be real: 'each one took special pride in branches that sloped smoothly down from pointed top to evenly shaped skirt.'
It mentions perfect trees were in the Carpathian Mountains, which instantly reminds of Christine Feehan!!
'& here the snow fell gently day after day to keep every branch fresh and green.' I don't understand how snow keeps the tree fresh and green.
'Each year as Christmas approached, the Queen's woodsmen would search the royal evergreen forest for the most perfect, most beautiful tree.' How cool!
'The one fortunate enough to be chosen would be cut on the first Saturday of Advent. It would then be carefully carried to the castle and set up in the center of the great hall. There it reigned in honor for all the Christmas celebrations.'
'Out in the hushed forest every evergreen hoped for this honor. Each tree tried to grow its branches and needles to perfection. All of them strained to have the best form and appearance.'
'As a seedling it had listened carefully to the older trees who knew what was best for young saplings. & it had tried so very hard to grow just right.' Ok, now this is getting a little ridiculous.
Especially this: 'It had, in fact, already overheard jealous whispers from the other trees. But it paid them no mind. Small Pine knew that if one did one's very best, what anyone else said didn't matter.'
This is getting crazy with the jealous whispers of trees.& they can't control how they grow. & it ends in a lesson for kids. Which is good, and true. But again, trees can't control how they grow.
When I first saw the page with the rabbit, it looked like an outline. It's color blended way too easily with the snow.
'One cold night, when a bright full moon glittered on the crusty snow..." How is snow crusty?
The rabbit is running frantically from wild dogs. 'But the dark, cold trees lifted their branches artfully from the snow and frowned. They did not like this interruption of their quiet evening when growing was at its best.' Those awful trees!
I knew this was heading to the rabbit hiding under a Small Pine and was so glad when he lowered his branches to hide the rabbit. He isn't able to lift his branches again.
A wren becomes lost and looks for shelter in the pines, which all turn her away. Small Pine's heart is touched again and he let's the wren rest in his top branches. He also can't move these branches.
He allows his branches to be eaten by a starving deer.
'Small Pine wilted in sorrow. It could hear what the larger, still-perfect trees were saying about how bad it looked. A tear of pine gum oozed from the tip of a branch.'
'When the Queen saw Small Pine, a flush of anger filled her. How could such an ugly tree with so many dropping branches and gaps be allowed in the royal forest? She decided to have a woodsman cut it to throw away and nodded for the sleigh to drive on.'
Wow I was not expecting that.
But then she did look back and notice the animals' tracks and feathers and gathered what had happened to it.
I like the traditions: 'on Christmas Day a huge style log blazed in the fireplace at the end of the great hall.'
'While orange glanced chuckled and crackled.' Flames dont chuckle.
Ppl looked at the tree and 'saw the protecting arm of their father or the comforting lap of a mother. And some, like the wise Queen, saw the love of Christ expressed on earth.'
-'so if you walk among evergreens today, you will find, along with rabbits, birds, and other happy living things, many trees like Small Pine. You will see a drooping limb, which gives cover, a gap offering a warm resting place, or branches ragged from feeding hungry animals.' Maybe that explains the drooping limbs of our tree this year.
'For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the same of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.'
Ended on a surprising note, a religious note. How living for others makes us beautiful to God. I didn't expect religion in here. There are a couple lessons in here for kids.
I'm disappointed there's no info about the author or illustrator in here.
I liked there illustrations and thought they suited the story well. I like the old feel of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2009
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. In my opinion, it should be on every Christian's "to read" list. A great story about serving our fellow men and the true spirit of Christmas. We read it last night as a family and all of the adults had tears in their eyes, and the children all said "ahhh" simultaneously.
December 15, 2016
I find this story to be kinda silly and time-wasting, but maybe I'd have liked it when I was younger. Also, I'm not a big fan of personification to this level for inanimate objects. ;) And our Christmas tree IS perfect. It always is. But it's still an okay story if you don't have a thousand other great Christmas picture books to read ... which I usually do.
December 10, 2007
One of my all-time favorite Christmas stories. This is a beautifully illustrated story about a small pine tree that offers shelter and food for the wildlife in the forest, sacrificing its "ideal" shape. It offers a heart-felt message that beauty comes from your generosity to others.
December 14, 2016
Amazing awesome my dad cried reading it
I am 9 years old. This book Should be a New York best seller. It shows about caring and love. You don't have to be popular and perfect, you should have a loving heart for the sake of other people.
I am 9 years old. This book Should be a New York best seller. It shows about caring and love. You don't have to be popular and perfect, you should have a loving heart for the sake of other people.
December 24, 2011
A lovely story we read every year the night we put up the Christmas tree. A good reminder of giving & sacrifice and how that makes each one of us more beautiful.
January 27, 2015
A beautiful story! The true meaning of Christmas is love and serving our fellow men- warmly shared in this sweet story.
November 27, 2016
11/25/2016 ** Holidays - and all days - are a time to reach out to shelter and nourish others. Celebrate and share the bounty and blessings that one has.
December 5, 2019
Beautiful. This is one I’m adding to our Christmas advent reading.
December 19, 2017
This is a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations and a terrific message about caring and kindness. Little Pine was a beautiful tree and it was hoping to be selected as the Queen’s Christmas tree. But through the course of the winter, Small Pine opened its heart and sheltered and fed animals in desperate need. These acts of kindness resulted in damage to Little Pine’s branches. But these imperfections only made the tree more beautiful to the Queen because they were made by living for the sake of others.
December 12, 2020
A lovely Christmas book with a sweet message. The illustrations are gorgeous. My kids loved this one and we read it often at Christmastime. The story of Small Pine and the sacrifices he made to protect the woodland creatures is sweet and touching. The message that his heart was more beautiful than any physical perfection is one that is important to take to heart. There is a small religious message but it is a Christmas book.
December 7, 2017
This is an excellent book for the Advent Season. Our service suggestions suggest to read part of this every Sunday prior to Christmas. My congregation is small and mostly seniors and they were all VERY upset that I didn't finish the book in one sitting.
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December 25, 2014I would give this book a zero if I could. I've never understood why on earth a tree would want to be chopped down to be a Christmas tree, dying slowly inside away from their natural habitat. But the worst part, the part that really disturbed me, is the one where the queen decides the tree which ruined its perfection by protecting a rabbit from hunters, saving a fawn from starvation and a bird from dying in a storm, will not be chopped down and thrown away. No, no, it will be chopped down and brought into her castle as a Christmas tree. And all her court applauds her wise decision in seeing past the tree's imperfections to its symbolism.
September 6, 2012
Written by the recently retired editor of "Guideposts" magazine, this a richly illustrated Advent/Christmas tale that will delight your child. Mild Christian themes make this accessible to all levels of faith and could even work for those who are of other faiths. The main theme is compassion and that translates to all people no matter what you believe in. It is a story about charity, thinking of others and being kind. This a great addition to any holiday collection, and will become a favorite of families everywhere.
November 30, 2009
My mom bought this book for my sisters and I when we were little girls, and it's a story I look forward to reading every year at Christmas. I love the sweet message of unconditional love that "small pine" shares with the creatures of the forest, as well as the seeing all the gorgeous illustrations by artist Elizabeth Miles.
Reading this sweet little book is one of my all-time favorite holiday traditions!
Reading this sweet little book is one of my all-time favorite holiday traditions!
February 6, 2009
A cute story about a small pine tree who wants to be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree, but as the tree gave shelter to various animals it became damaged.
The Queen saw that the tree was damaged by the animals, but took it in and decorated it. Those who saw the tree saw that it was damaged and saw that it was symbolic of the love of Christ expressed on earth.
The Queen saw that the tree was damaged by the animals, but took it in and decorated it. Those who saw the tree saw that it was damaged and saw that it was symbolic of the love of Christ expressed on earth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2023
Re-read 2023.
This is one of my all-time favorite kids picture book Christmas stories. Every few years it merits a re-read.
It shares the beauty of nature as well as teaching the importance of kindness and compassion. So charming. I always marvel at how kids books can teach deep and vital life skills in simple stories and beautiful illustrations.
This is one of my all-time favorite kids picture book Christmas stories. Every few years it merits a re-read.
It shares the beauty of nature as well as teaching the importance of kindness and compassion. So charming. I always marvel at how kids books can teach deep and vital life skills in simple stories and beautiful illustrations.
December 8, 2014
My 10 year old brought this sweet book home from the library this weekend because she loved it so much when her librarian read it, she wanted to share it with us. The story of the little tree who starts out looking "perfect" is the only tree in the forest who feels compassion for others in need and thus begins to look a little haggard. A beautiful message and well worth sharing.
December 22, 2015
One of my top 5 Christmas books. I love this one so much I rewrote it into a play for my Taiwanese 9th grade ESL class one year. Nothing like costuming adolescents as trees and woodland creatures. Part of my love for this book is its link to my childhood, but it's also just a lovely little exploration of Christ's love that gets us misty every time.
December 12, 2016
This is a gorgeously illustrated book set in a snowy kingdom in the Carpathian Mountains. My son loved all the forest creatures who sought shelter with the beautiful pine tree. Wrapped up in the fairy tale-trappings is a story about putting the needs of others above our own, and finding value in unconditional, Christlike love rather than in appearances.
February 20, 2017
I love this story/parable because it teaches me about the true worth and beauty of a person (or tree), because of the goodness and kindness of one's heart. Even if you don't feel beautiful, especially compared to others, you make a difference, never know who you'll touch, and are noticed by the One Who Matters Most.
January 2, 2009
Perfectly illustrates the Spirit of Christmas, or Spirit of Christ. The last paragraph of the book: "For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in they eyes of God."
January 27, 2012
I was totally surprised in a good way by this book. I just picked it up in the library and looked through it on impulse. The redemptive story and pictures made me check it out ad share it right away with family and friends.
December 23, 2016
A bit saccharine, but a sweet story to read at Christmas. It has a nice reminder and tie-in to the Christian reason for the season which is a helpful counterpart to the myriad Santa and "holiday" books that abound. Kids will enjoy this more than adults will.
October 11, 2018
I think this book does an excellent job of demonstrating how to take the Christmas spirit throughout the year. Living a life of service might not be pretty, but it's a true celebration of the life of Christ and not just his birth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews