There are people who read picture books. And then there are people who READ picture books. The second are the ones who get as excited about new picture books as they do about their own books. Who read blogs and follow Instagram accounts dedicated to picture books. Who immediately max out SIXTY library holds with picture books, as soon as the library expands it. Who start hoarding Christmas books in mid-November.
The second one is me.
I have gotten a bit obsessive/crazy over picture books. As I keep telling my husband, there are FAR WORSE addictions to have than checking out A LOT of picture books from the library and then reading them all to my kids. I tell him he should be glad that I just get these from the library (and then end up buying some) and not just buy them all outright (it would massively break the budget to buy all the picture books we read). Yes, I frequently over stuff the stroller or my tote bag when going to the library. It's a good thing we live close.
Because of my slight obsessive nature over picture books, I have read a lot of them. And instead of sharing just one Christmas picture list post, I plan to share themed ones over the next few weeks (fingers crossed, if it goes to plan). Thanks to Modern Mrs. Darcy for the "book flight" name, it's what I immediately started calling these in my mind when we accidentally read the start this book flight last weekend (not completely accidentally, I had most of these checked out from the library and they were among the ones due first and I realized a lot were tree themed so we read them all together).
Here we go!
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The Queen and the First Christmas Tree: Queen Charlotte's Gift to England by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
I love a good picture book that teaches me some history I had never heard before! Queen Charlotte was a German princess who was brought to England to marry a prince she met just hours before their wedding. She had loved the woods back home and used nature in her decorating. When preparing to host a party for 100 children she had a whole tree brought in to decorate and thus, Christmas trees were introduced to England. Especially perfect to read to any Charlotte's in your life!
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
This is one I am considering buying this year; I always buy at least one new Christmas picture book. It's a nice rhyming story about picking out a pine tree and then inviting friends over to decorate it with you. I do love a good rhyming story. The pictures are just perfect too. I read this to the boys the day we got our Christmas tree!
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
This is another one I am considering buying; it's an older one but was a delightful surprise when we first read it a few years ago. Mr. Willowby gets a tree that is just a little too big and has his servant cut off the top. The top is then given to a maid who finds it just a little too big and cuts off the top which gets passed on, and so forth. I love the sharing and how every creature needs a tree of their own. And they are all just a little off in estimating how big of one they need!
The Christmas Tree Ship by Carol Crane, illustrated by Chris Ellison
This is based on a true story of a ship that used to deliver trees from Northern (I don't believe it specified the UP or not) Michigan to Chicago, except the year it was going to be the last year, the ship sunk and trees washed on shore along Lake Michigan. OK, it's a little more grim that some on this list but Luke was fascinated by the tale, especially since it was in 1912 which is when he knows the Titanic sunk (that's a whole other interest).
One Splendid Tree by Marilyn Helmer, illustrated by Dianne Eastman
A mother and her two children are facing the holidays without their father/husband who is off fighting in World War II. Money is tight and it won't be a Christmas like they are used to but then the other residents of their building come together to make it a Christmas they will all remember fondly, even in these worst of circumstances. It's a little longer but very good.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
This is another one that is a little longer but also very good. Every year a family in their Appalachian community is picked to provide the tree for the town celebration. This year it's Ruthie's turn but her father is away, fighting in a war but the town still needs a Christmas tree and these people need something to celebrate. Maybe it's especially nice this year to read about other people going through a less than ideal Christmas?
The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy, Illustrated by Emily Sutton
A tree doesn't grow quite right and then doesn't get picked at Christmastime. It's thrown out on the streets but a boy who lives under a bridge picks it up and uses the money he should have spent on food to buy candles to decorate it. People are slowly drawn to his tree and gather to sing some songs around it. The little tree is so happy to have made other people happy, when he didn't think he was wanted. And the tree that didn't get a home gets to live the longest. A good reminder of people who have less than us AND the pictures are great.
The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Chris Turnham
Charles wants to find the elusive wish tree and in search for it, ends up helping some animals make their wishes come true. Maybe the wish tree isn't real but to these animals but he is still spreading some joy!
This, of course, doesn't nearly cover all the picture books about Christmas trees but I can only read and recommend so many! Let me know if you've read any more good ones!
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