Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree came by special delivery. Full and fresh and glistening green--the biggest tree he had ever seen. He dashed downstairs to open the door--This was the moment he'd waited for.

I loved, loved, loved Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. It celebrates giving in a fun and playful way. Mr. Willowby starts off a long chain of giving when he chops off the top of his too-tall Christmas tree. A tree that is splendid in every other way. He gives the tree-top to the upstairs maid. She's delighted. Very delighted. How thoughtful! How cheery! But the tree is too-tall for her small room. The top must go! Chances are you can predict at this point how the story will go. But that doesn't mean it is in any way less delightful. This show more little tree-top gets passed down and re-trimmed again and again and again and again and again. And it's just WONDERFUL to see how much happiness and cheer it brings to others.

I loved the premise. I loved the writing. The rhyming was delightful. It worked very well for me! I think this one would make a great read-aloud. I also loved how uplifting it is. (After reading Baboushka and the Three Kings, I needed a cheery story!)

Why didn't someone tell me about this wonderful and charming picture book?! Why?! Well, I am glad to have discovered it now!

Which Christmas books would you consider classic? Which would you recommend? show less

When Mr. Willowby has his annual Christmas tree delivered, only to discover that it is too tall to fit in his parlor, he has his butler lop off the top of it. This top - a small tree in its own right - is given to the upstairs maid, who in turn lops off its top, which is taken the next day by Timm the gardener. Timm's wife also lops of the top of their "tree," with this top being found by a local bear. And so it goes, as each new person or creature finds the lopped-off top and uses it as their own Christmas tree. The story concludes with the mice, back in Mr. Willowby's own house, enjoying a tiny, tiny tree, while their human counterpart enjoys his massive one...

Originally published in 1963, and reprinted in this edition from 2000, Mr. show more Willowby's Christmas Tree is a picture-book I have long been aware of, but had never happened to pick up hitherto. I'm glad that I finally did, as I found Robert Barry's rhyming tale quite engaging, and his sweetly humorous illustrations appealing. I appreciated the circular narrative here, starting out at Mr. Willowby's house, going off into the wider world (including the forest), and then winding up back at Mr. Willowby's house again. Recommended to anyone looking for fun, sweet picture-books for the Christmas season, especially if their taste tends more towards the vintage! show less

I heard about this children's book somewhere and ordered it sight unseen for the nieces for Christmas. Of course I had to read it (carefully!) to be sure it was up to snuff. I loved this rhyming story about how a rich gentleman gets the perfect tree but has to chop off the top bit to make it fit in his parlor. He gives the top to his maid, who has to chop of the top to make it fit in her attic room. She throws it out, and the gardener finds it and takes it home, where he has to chop off the top bit... et cetera through a succession of smaller and smaller recipients of the tree tops until the last bit ends up with the mouse family in the mouse hole in Mr. Willowby's parlor. Lovely! Great, fun illustrations, too.

As soon as I started reading this, I realized that I had done so already. I still don't remember details, but it feels as if it was a childhood favorite, and that it influenced me to be the kind of person who uses thrift store, who repurposes, and salvages. If only more of the participants had actually tried to find the next person to hand over the smaller bit, it would be a true 'pay-it-forward' story and I would give it five stars.

I love this book from the charming endpapers to the full circle with the very tip of the tree coming back to the Willowby’s home. Adorable.

My family has read this one for over a decade of Christmases now. It has a fun sense of rhyme and a positive message about how when you are generous, it inspires others to do the same.

The Willowby's Christmas Tree written by Robert Barry is a cute book to read to children at Christmas time. This book's genre is poetry. The book's straightforward text and illustrations make the book readable. Mr. Willowby received the special delivery of his Christmas tree. When he put it up, it was too tall so he cut it off. Animals came across the top and kept trimming the top of the tree until it fits right. After numerous animal families cutting the tops off, a mouse family who lives in Mr. Willowby's house finds the perfect size tree for their small home. The book has humor and the children will love the story.