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The Scrawny Little Tree
Originally published in 1973, The Scrawny Little Tree tells of a destitute little boy who has always wanted a Christmas tree. He finally has saved enough to buy a little tree all his own, one with scrawny limbs and very few needles. But the boy's love for his first Christmas tree is not affected by its diminuitive stature. His love and the magic of Christmas combine to make a strange and wonderful thing happen to the town . . . Told in rhyme and with retro illustrations, The Scrawny Little Tree is sure to become a favorite holiday tale!
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2011
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 27, 2023
I don't have anything against this book, but it didn't add anything to my life by reading it. I did enjoy that it definitely had the "look" of a 1970 gift book.... the colors, the illustrations, the size and shape. By the way, it was published in 1970; the Good Reads description was inaccurate.
October 16, 2017
Beautiful story of a poor young boy who purchases a scrawny little tree. A perfect Christmas tale of love, kindness and Christmas magic.
December 25, 2019
It was honestly pretty annoying. The message was good but the rhymes were not, it was too long, and the font was super annoying. I may get rid of this one.
July 25, 2025
What a difference love and appreciation can make.
September 28, 2015
In the long tradition of uplifting family Christmas tales with a positive message about human connectedness and the redemptive power of self-sacrificing love, The Scrawny Little Tree lays out a very nice story that meshes perfectly with the spirit of the holiday season. Considering that Christmas is all about the celebration of what a single act of unconditional love can do to change lives, I'd have to say that this book tunes into that theme with faithful, understated beauty, and will appeal to the imagination and feelings of an eclectic assortment of readers.
When a poor boy finds a skinny, forgotten little nub of a Christmas tree in a seller's lot on Christmas Eve, he is filled with joy as he realizes that this could be his chance to actually have a Christmas tree of his very own. Few others would have given the weakling tree a second look, but the boy's lack of money doesn't allow him the variety of choices available to the more affluent, and he's just happy to have the opportunity to purchase any tree at all. Gathering together the few pennies that he has saved up for the occasion, he buys the tree and goes home to set it up by his bedside.
Having been redeemed by the boy, the tree feels a sense of true acceptance and affection that it never thought would be directed its way; and, determined to pay the boy back somehow for his benevolence in choosing to care about a skinny little tree left all by itself in a cold lot, the grateful tree uses the power of Christmas to give the boy a gift that will last forever, and will change the futures of other poor children, as well.
In addition to the solid story, the illustrations by Susie Pollard deserve mention as being of excellent quality. According to the book jacket, she was still an art student when selected to create the pictures for this project, and a better selection could hardly have been made. The artistic tone and style is just perfect for the book.
I have little doubt that The Scrawny Little Tree will remain a staple of the Christmas season for a long time, and this new version will probably have a lot to do with it. I would probably give it two and a half stars.
When a poor boy finds a skinny, forgotten little nub of a Christmas tree in a seller's lot on Christmas Eve, he is filled with joy as he realizes that this could be his chance to actually have a Christmas tree of his very own. Few others would have given the weakling tree a second look, but the boy's lack of money doesn't allow him the variety of choices available to the more affluent, and he's just happy to have the opportunity to purchase any tree at all. Gathering together the few pennies that he has saved up for the occasion, he buys the tree and goes home to set it up by his bedside.
Having been redeemed by the boy, the tree feels a sense of true acceptance and affection that it never thought would be directed its way; and, determined to pay the boy back somehow for his benevolence in choosing to care about a skinny little tree left all by itself in a cold lot, the grateful tree uses the power of Christmas to give the boy a gift that will last forever, and will change the futures of other poor children, as well.
In addition to the solid story, the illustrations by Susie Pollard deserve mention as being of excellent quality. According to the book jacket, she was still an art student when selected to create the pictures for this project, and a better selection could hardly have been made. The artistic tone and style is just perfect for the book.
I have little doubt that The Scrawny Little Tree will remain a staple of the Christmas season for a long time, and this new version will probably have a lot to do with it. I would probably give it two and a half stars.
December 20, 2011
The best new Christmas story I've read this year! My landlady made sure I'd read through it during this season and it warmed my heart. This was the perfect way to almost get into the spirit during those times when it's not so easy anymore.
December 19, 2011
Sweet 1970 illustrated poem about the love of a ... tree ... for a boy, which then inspires the entire town to no longer neglect its needy.
December 9, 2011
Reads a bit like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in a Dr. Seuss-like rhyme style, but nowhere near as good a story.
December 7, 2012
sweet, but not a keeper
June 13, 2014
A must read for children during the Christmas season. A holiday tale of hope and love.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews