The Littlest Christmas Tree

PreS-Gr 1–A cute ursine Christmas tale. Daddy Bear and little Cubby, along with their neighboring animals, get ready to celebrate Christmas by looking for Christmas trees. After Cubby runs into a teeny evergreen, Daddy and Cubby take the tree home to decorate. Then, they wrap presents and drink hot chocolate. When Christmas Day arrives, Daddy, Cubby, and their friends have a merry, festive party. After the holiday is over, Cubby feels heartbroken, until Daddy comes up with a clever way to save the day and the little tree by planting it outside for the next year. While this might work for the bears, it is not a likely option for many readers who might be sad to part with their own tree. Chapman’s slightly bumbling, anthropomorphic animals are endearing as always, and the juxtaposition of the patient, but put upon, father and the overexcited, oblivious cub is both comical and true to life. The childlike ebullient tone of the story matches the bright colors of the illustrations. VERDICT Sweet and somewhat notable for having a single-parent household, this story can be a suitable addition to Christmas collections. But it is not a must, especially for those that already have the similar title by Chapman, Is It Christmas Yet? –School Library Journal

A bear cub befriends a tiny Christmas tree.
Cubby tromps through the snowy woods with Daddy Bear and other forest friends to search for a Christmas tree. Cubby slips in excitement and tumbles “into a flash of fuzzy green.” Instead of Cubby finding a tree, a tree has chosen Cubby! Daddy Bear lugs it home to their den. Amid the flurry of lights and other decorations, Cubby bonds with the tree, reading it stories and attempting to share cocoa with it. (Luckily, Daddy Bear steps in before the hot liquid spills everywhere.) Cubby snuggles next to Little Tree at night and confides, “You’ve filled our home with happiness.” On Christmas Day, all the woodland friends come to celebrate. But when it’s time to take the decorations down, Cubby is sad. “That means Christmas is over. It’s the end of…HAPPINESS!” Daddy Bear shows Cubby how they can replant Little Tree outside their den to use again next year. Centering a single-parent family, this sweet tale reminds readers that they can hold a little bit of Christmas magic tight each day, not only during the holiday season. Quaint illustrations of Cubby and Daddy Bear set cozy scenes, reminiscent of those in collaborations between Chapman and author/illustrator Karma Wilson.
A nod to both Christmas excitement and post-holiday big feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)–Kirkus Reviews