Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Robert Barry
McGraw Hill, 1963

I am so in the Christmas spirit right now. I've pulled out my son's box of Christmas titles, and whereas last year this one was too long for him to get into, this year it is a fave. It was one of my fave holiday books, too. With the cute animals and the mysterious other life that the tree finds. Starting with rich, old Mr. Willowby's too-tall Christmas tree... trickling down to the smallest mouse in the house.

Barnaby Bear was padding by --
It almost hit him in the eye.
"Now who would throw a tree away
So very close to Christmas day?"

Mr. W's tree gets the top cut off again and again and again so that joy spreads and everyone gets a little bit of the magic.

Also produced as a TV movie in the 90s starring Robert Downey Jr. and the Muppets, this is still one of the best holiday books for kids in my opinion. Just the feeling of goodwill and how everyone has different ideas of beautiful. Not to mention the adorable illustrations.

A true, true classic.