Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
By Robert E. Barry
The Story
When Mr. Willowby's grand Christmas tree turns out too tall for his parlor, the trimmed-off top gets passed along and along, bringing a little tree — and holiday cheer — to household after household.
Why It's Special
For the kid who loves finding out what happens next and next and next, this one turns a single Christmas tree into a chain of small surprises.
- Big idea: One person's leftover can be someone else's whole celebration — generosity has a way of multiplying.
- Vibes: cozy, cumulative, old-fashioned Christmas warmth
Perfect For Kids Who
- love repetition and cumulative stories
- enjoy guessing what happens next
- respond well to gentle, classic holiday traditions
- like to spot small details across many pages
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What did Mr. Willowby do when his Christmas tree turned out to be too tall for his parlor?
- Imagination: If you had an extra treetop to give away, who would you give it to?
- Real-life connection: Can you think of a time when something you didn't need anymore made someone else happy?
- Story & problem-solving: Why do you think the tree kept getting passed along instead of thrown away?
