THE CHRISTMAS REDWOOD

Some kids in the woods beg their grandfather to tell a story again, one they already know well. He begins his tale with an old redwood tree in the wilderness that shakes its limbs, allowing a seed to fall on the first Christmas night. With a repeated refrain of “Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest,” he recounts how the animals hear the news of the birth of the Lamb of God and spread the message far and wide. The creatures wonder if this Lamb of God will come to the woods. Meanwhile, the old tree continues to protect the seedling as it grows strong. The animals hear of the news that the Messiah is preaching, and they continue to pass the message along from creature to creature. The young tree decides to follow Jesus’ teachings by spreading its roots and helping the forest ecosystem. One day, a storm rages, and lightning strikes the young tree at the same time that the animals hear of the death of Jesus. The tree, though struck, remains steadfast in its faith and its duty to the woods. Grandfather encourages the children that they should do the same. Kirk punctuates her straightforward parable with illustrations that feature delicate black lines, providing gentle forest scenes that should appeal to young readers. The dialogue occasionally rhymes, though most of the story is written in unrhymed verse. There are useful resources at the end of the book that help connect the tale to Bible teachings. Though the parallels to the life of Jesus can seem a bit of a stretch, the sturdy redwood is an effective allegory for strong faith.

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