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The Snow Tree
Nature lovers of all ages will delight in this ornate Christmas picture book that celebrates the splendor of the natural world
Lavish embossing on every page gently illuminates snow-covered hills and trees, bringing to life the frozen beauty of the woodland setting. A little black bear wakes up to find a wintry world of white all around him. He wonders where all the colors have gone, and steps out into the softly drifted snow to look for them. The cub is soon helped in his search by a whole host of animals, including a raccoon, a blue jay, a lynx, and an arctic fox who bring the brilliant colors of the forest to him, one by one. What the animals finally create together with their treasures is a magical symbol of the Christmas season and a timeless testimonial to the joy of friendship and sharing.
Readers will be enchanted by the lovingly rendered woodland animal and forest scenes, as well as the poetic text printed in elegant calligraphy.
Lavish embossing on every page gently illuminates snow-covered hills and trees, bringing to life the frozen beauty of the woodland setting. A little black bear wakes up to find a wintry world of white all around him. He wonders where all the colors have gone, and steps out into the softly drifted snow to look for them. The cub is soon helped in his search by a whole host of animals, including a raccoon, a blue jay, a lynx, and an arctic fox who bring the brilliant colors of the forest to him, one by one. What the animals finally create together with their treasures is a magical symbol of the Christmas season and a timeless testimonial to the joy of friendship and sharing.
Readers will be enchanted by the lovingly rendered woodland animal and forest scenes, as well as the poetic text printed in elegant calligraphy.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
1 person is currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 6, 2016
Bear wakes to a totally white world and wonders where the color has gone. Other animals start bringing their contributions to decorate the snow tree. Delightful woodland setting!
March 1, 2020
The illustrations are lovely and the textured pages add to the appeal, especially for children. My four-year-old LOVES this book. I have always liked the idea of an outdoor "snow tree" decorated with objects from nature and it's beautifully presented here. The text was sometimes a little awkward for me. For example, the scarlet berries that squirrel brings "glistened like drops of blood against the snow" (I know about the holly berries representing the blood of Jesus but this book feels secular and it was kinda jarring having these little animals liken the berries to blood -- for that matter the lynx in attendance would probably have eaten the squirrel in real life) and "'Where have all the colors gone?' [bear] cried, for he had never sen such a white and wintery world before. But the wind only answered with silence." Wouldn't the wind be making some sort of sound? Again, kind of odd phrasing. But, I'm giving three stars for the illustrations and an extra star because my son loves it!
December 26, 2015
Little Bear wakes up to discover the world around has turned entirely white. He wonders where all of the colors have gone, but then the creatures of the forest begin to appear carrying colorful gifts which they will use to decorate the snow tree. The moose is the last to arrive with a star that will remind all of the forest animals of the "glory of nature, and the beauty of peace and friendship of this Christmas time."
This book is so beautifully illustrated by Josephine Martin. The story by Caroline Repchuk will introduce young readers to various animals, help the youngest readers with colors, and also give a reminder of the different seasons. In the hard back version the pages have textures that children will enjoy. A pleasure to read.
This book is so beautifully illustrated by Josephine Martin. The story by Caroline Repchuk will introduce young readers to various animals, help the youngest readers with colors, and also give a reminder of the different seasons. In the hard back version the pages have textures that children will enjoy. A pleasure to read.
January 20, 2020
I am experiencing my first really snowy winter in 15 years. I stumbled across this beautiful book in one of the many Little Free Libraries i pass on my daily walk. It is just what I needed today. Little Bear wakes up to his first snow and wonders where all the colors have gone. The creatures of the forest bring natural elements of the wood to decorate The Snow Tree. Each element is a remembrance of the colors of spring and summer. This well written children’s book is beautifully illustrated and it’s thick pages are all wonderfully embossed. I would have loved this book as a child and do as an adult. I don’t know if it’s still in print, my copy says 1997, and it is in almost perfect condition.
December 6, 2011
This is a very sweet book. Bear wakes up to a white and snowy world and all the forest animals work to return color to the world, by decorating a beautiful snow tree. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful and the text is wonderful, as each of the animals describe their gift to the snow tree and what that gift represents...blue jay contributes some of his blue feathers saying that they are "all I have to give, but these feathers are as blue as the summer sky and the rolling waters of the river." See what I mean? Just beautiful.
April 29, 2011
This story reminds me of how children are always asking questions when they don't understand things. The animals in the book help to show the little bear the colors from the other seasons. This story does have the idea of Christmas when they decorate the snow tree. This could also be a good book to use when teaching children about the different seasons, and the colors they would see in each season.
December 2, 2012
This book had raised up pictures that add to the book, and great detailed but simple pictures. It has a great Christmas story-line with animals that younger students would love. I think kindergarten to third grade would be good for this book.
December 20, 2008
Interesting embossed pages with broad white backgrounds of snow emphasize the colorful images. Now, where did moose get that golden star?
December 29, 2017
I loved the textured pages of this book! So clever and so great! A perfect book for this time of year, especially if you, like me, are surrounded by snow--that does glisten in the sun, but has you longing for the colors of all the other seasons. Colors, that is something that was so bold and bright in this book, as well as the side story of community, forest creatures, and winter time.
December 24, 2020
An absolutely beautiful book about the wonders of nature and all the little things that make life colorful.
A favorite from my childhood.❤️
A favorite from my childhood.❤️
January 9, 2021
Beautiful artwork with embossed pages.
February 12, 2021
A wonderful book. I used to read it to my doughter, now we read it together. It has embossed texture on most of the illustrations and it looks and feels amazing.
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September 24, 2022I need to get a copy of this to read every Christmas!
January 3, 2023
Beautifully illustrated. Great nature story for little ones.
December 7, 2023
A darling book!
December 21, 2023
Saving the best of our library Christmas books this year and this made the cut. Very cute.
January 24, 2026
We loved this book. The textures are fascinating as you read. The story is precious! Definitely a yearly read now.
February 23, 2015
The Snow Tree written by Caroline Repchuk is a story meant for a younger crowd. The book tells of a young bear who wakes up during winter, confused as to why the ground is so white. As the story progresses, Little Bear’s friend’s each bring him an item that will remind him of the colors that he knows during the summer and fall months. Items brought to him include autumn leaves, berries, blue jay feathers, and purple rocks. It isn’t until the conclusion of the story that the reader finds out what these items are used for.
The first thing I noticed when opening the book, was that the pages were raised, and had lots of texture on them. Texture is a design element that creates a sense of reality to the story, and in this particular book, relates the reader to nature as the reader feels the imprints of the leaves and plants when running their hand across the book pages. This was very interesting to me, as you do not see texture like this in many picture books. The pages are also flat and thick, which makes this book perfectly suited for the younger ones that try to grip each page to turn to the next.
Each item brought to Little Bear is the only color in the book besides the characters (forest animals) themselves. With that being said, since each token brought by the different animals represents the warmer months of summer and fall, the colors used are yellow, red, green, blue and purple. These colors all represent warmth, which is what they remind Little Bear of while he is stuck in the cold, white winter snow.
By the end of the book, the reader finds out that Little Bear is decorating a Christmas tree with his friends, and they use each of the items brought to little bear to decorate. Once the tree is decorated, Little Bear feels at peace, for once again, there is color in the forest. The Snow Tree is not a tale filled with didacticism, but it does show examples of friendship, and accomplishing a goal. This is a unique story in the way that the illustrations are done. The illustrations are what make this young children’s book stand out from all the rest.
The first thing I noticed when opening the book, was that the pages were raised, and had lots of texture on them. Texture is a design element that creates a sense of reality to the story, and in this particular book, relates the reader to nature as the reader feels the imprints of the leaves and plants when running their hand across the book pages. This was very interesting to me, as you do not see texture like this in many picture books. The pages are also flat and thick, which makes this book perfectly suited for the younger ones that try to grip each page to turn to the next.
Each item brought to Little Bear is the only color in the book besides the characters (forest animals) themselves. With that being said, since each token brought by the different animals represents the warmer months of summer and fall, the colors used are yellow, red, green, blue and purple. These colors all represent warmth, which is what they remind Little Bear of while he is stuck in the cold, white winter snow.
By the end of the book, the reader finds out that Little Bear is decorating a Christmas tree with his friends, and they use each of the items brought to little bear to decorate. Once the tree is decorated, Little Bear feels at peace, for once again, there is color in the forest. The Snow Tree is not a tale filled with didacticism, but it does show examples of friendship, and accomplishing a goal. This is a unique story in the way that the illustrations are done. The illustrations are what make this young children’s book stand out from all the rest.
February 22, 2017
I enjoy "The Snow Tree," because of the amazing and detailed illustrations, and the message that is told. All the animals of the forest work together to decorate the snow tree, each bringing an item that is important to them in some way. This book demonstrates kindness and team work, two very important skills.
January 31, 2016
I've always loved children's picture books, although I rejected them quite harshly once I could take books out from libraries as a kid.
I buy children's picture books if I want and I never say I'm getting them for someone else, if I'm asked if I have kids I look at them like they're idiots. I'm practically a kid myself, how could I look after a small human??
The embossed pages and illustrations in this book are truly wonderful, Little Bear has woken up to his first winter and misses all the colours of the world. He is helped by Lynx, Squirrel, Blue Jay, Mink, Raccoon, Reindeer and Bunting, all of them decorating the Snow Tree with foliage, fur and ice just in time for Christmas, working together to share and enjoy the white-blanketed landscape of North America.
A beautiful book.
I buy children's picture books if I want and I never say I'm getting them for someone else, if I'm asked if I have kids I look at them like they're idiots. I'm practically a kid myself, how could I look after a small human??
The embossed pages and illustrations in this book are truly wonderful, Little Bear has woken up to his first winter and misses all the colours of the world. He is helped by Lynx, Squirrel, Blue Jay, Mink, Raccoon, Reindeer and Bunting, all of them decorating the Snow Tree with foliage, fur and ice just in time for Christmas, working together to share and enjoy the white-blanketed landscape of North America.
A beautiful book.
March 6, 2016
It's one of those children's books that's all about the illustrations. Really, the text seems to be just an excuse to show off the well-made pictures. There is also an affection for nature and its creatures that can't be criticized. My girls enjoyed this book to a certain extent, but I was charmed by the illustrations each time I read it--the attractive detail and the clever use of bright color. It's really the color, rather than just the pictures, that makes this book a good one. The story is simple and somewhat banal (a secular Christmas story with animal characters, set in the forest), but the use of specific colors on each page is charming, and beautiful.
For nature-loving families and their children, this is a fine choice for the holiday collection.
For nature-loving families and their children, this is a fine choice for the holiday collection.
September 20, 2016
I loved how simple this book was. The story is about Little Bear who woke up to everything around him being crisp white! He cries and wonders where all the colors have gone. On his journey throughout this book he tries to find out where all the colors have gone. That was probably my favorite part about the book too! As he's trying to find the colors he runs into animals that have brightly colored natured objects that they are gathering for the snow tree. The background of the each page would be just white with a few details, but nothing that took your attention from the objects found by the animals.
Very simple read. Wonderfully illustrated!
Very simple read. Wonderfully illustrated!
September 11, 2023
I picked this little gem up at a used book store and can never imagine a time when I would ever give it away. The story and raised textured pages of this mystical Christmas tale is enchanting. I enjoy reading it to my children and they love flipping the page and following the outlines on each page. So glad I added this to my collection of children books.
Sub Genres:
Waldorf
Living (Charlotte Mason)
Nature
Winter
Christmas
Sub Genres:
Waldorf
Living (Charlotte Mason)
Nature
Winter
Christmas
January 25, 2012
A beautiful book that I absolutely loved as a child. It was one of my favourites.
I used to love lightly running my fingers over the embossed pages as I read the cute little story of a bear in search for coloured objects to decorate a christmas tree with.
I used to love lightly running my fingers over the embossed pages as I read the cute little story of a bear in search for coloured objects to decorate a christmas tree with.
January 28, 2016
We loved this book! The different textures and colors throughout made it appeal to my little one. Definitely a favorite. I liked the lessons about working together and decorating to represent something for each decoration.
December 13, 2016
This is a winter tale that doesn't associate with a specific holiday. The pages are textured and the illustrations are captivating against the snowy white background. A wonderful way to introduce descriptive writing centered on colors. My three year old and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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August 26, 2012Wonderfully illustrated with great textured elements too-one of my daughter's faves.
December 17, 2014
I read this beautiful story every year!
December 6, 2016
This is a sweet book and is one of the most beautifully illustrated children's books I've seen. The illustrations are textured and are simply lovely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews