posted on 20 Dec 2015

The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy illustrated by Emily Sutton

I always rush to look at new books with a Christmas theme as I have gathered quite a collection over the years. I am often disappointed as they are either too glittery or over sentimental but this one is a gem. This probably because it's old fashioned, vintage style illustrations play directly to my own nostalgia for childhood. As soon as I realised that it was a story about a pathetic little tree being overlooked and finally rescued by a deserving child I was back listening to Nat King Cole's  ‘Little Christmas Tree' sitting cosily by the fire. This song was played religiously in my house every Christmas and tells the tale of another such tree being saved and lavishly decorated. 

This charming book begins by showing us the poor little tree buffeted in the forest and growing up rather twisted and pathetic. It is the last tree left in the shop on Christmas Eve and is about to be thrown away at closing time when a boy, who turns out to be homeless, persuades the shopkeeper to let him have it. On is way to the river he finds a box and carefully plants the tree inside using some mud. When he arrives back to where he lives under the arches of the railway bridge, a passerby gives him some money which he uses to buy candles and matches and decorates it. Many other homeless people join him and it provides a centrepiece for their singing and celebrations watched by other passers-by: ' the little tree felt it would burst with happiness'. As night arrives the snow begins to fall and the night sky above the arches is lit up with lights from the windows and street decorations as luckier people walk to their homes.

As I write this, I realise that the story sounds ridiculous and mawkish which it isn't. I think this is due to the matter of fact storytelling and the gorgeously coloured illustrations which lift it into the realm of traditional fairy tale. As with Hans Christian Anderson's ' Little Match Girl' we are troubled by her terrible circumstances living on the streets but ultimately gladdened by the pure joy that she gains from the glow of the flame. This boy in this story at least seems to have a jollier time ( at least he doesn't die like the other poor child) and leaves the tree behind at the end of the holiday to move on to live somewhere else. 

The little tree is then rescued again by a road sweeper who plants it in the corner of the park. Over the years it grows ' if not big and tall, at least cheerfully stout' and dreams of its poor beginnings. It provides a clear hopeful message about looking forward, making the best of difficult times, being kind etc which aren't such  bad messages. So, perhaps I am more sentimental than I would like to admit but this certainly deserves a place in any collection of children's Christmas books. It would make a delightful present and inspire some interesting conversations.

 

Karen Argent

19th December 2015