Richard Schneider’s 1988 seasonal classic has everything children adore: a queen, a castle, a magic forest, and small animals.
Schneider weaves a lovely tale with a wonderful message for all ages, which has never been more timely: Small, random acts of kindness do count and can have a lasting impact on both the giver and the receiver.
Small Pine was a little fir that hoped to be chosen by the Queen as her Christmas tree. Its branches were beautifully shaped and it had such a perfect form that the other trees were envious. However, as winter grew more harsh, small birds and animals sought shelter in the trees, which withdrew their branches for fear of losing their beauty. All, that is, except for Small Pine. The little tree gave warmth and shelter to the forest creatures and sacrificed its soft needles to feed a lost fawn.
When the Queen came seeking her perfect Christmas tree, she saw the gaps, missing needles, and damaged branches in Small Pine’s foliage. What she did next offers a meaningful and loving message for children and adults to remember throughout the year: “… that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.”
“What Kids Are Reading” is a regular feature in the Sun, highlighting children’s books available for young readers in Santa Maria. This week’s recommendation is by Ariel Waterman.
This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2011.