Little Tree

by E.E. Cummings, Deborah Kogan Ray (Illustrator)

In a warm and touching poem, e.e. cummings describes the wonder and excitement of a young brother and sister who find a little tree on a city sidewalk and carry it home, where they adorn it with Christmas finery.

Genres: Poetry, Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Classics, Fiction

24 pages, Paperback

Published August 9, 1994

About the author

Edward Estlin Cummings was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1894. He began writing poems as early as 1904 and studied Latin and Greek at the Cambridge Latin High School.

He received his BA in 1915 and his MA in 1916, both from Harvard University. His studies there introduced him to the poetry of avant-garde writers, such as Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound.

In 1917, Cummings published an early selection of poems in the anthology Eight Harvard Poets. The same year, Cummings left the United States for France as a volunteer ambulance driver in World War I. Five months after his assignment, however, he and a friend were interned in a prison camp by the French authorities on suspicion of espionage (an experience recounted in his novel, The Enormous Room) for his outspoken anti-war convictions.

After the war, he settled into a life divided between houses in rural Connecticut and Greenwich Village, with frequent visits to Paris. He also traveled throughout Europe, meeting poets and artists, including Pablo Picasso, whose work he particularly admired.

In 1920, The Dial published seven poems by Cummings, including "Buffalo Bill ’s.” Serving as Cummings’ debut to a wider American audience, these “experiments” foreshadowed the synthetic cubist strategy Cummings would explore in the next few years.

In his work, Cummings experimented radically with form, punctuation, spelling, and syntax, abandoning traditional techniques and structures to create a new, highly idiosyncratic means of poetic expression. Later in his career, he was often criticized for settling into his signature style and not pressing his work toward further evolution. Nevertheless, he attained great popularity, especially among young readers, for the simplicity of his language, his playful mode and his attention to subjects such as war and sex.

The poet and critic Randall Jarrell once noted that Cummings is “one of the most individual poets who ever lived—and, though it sometimes seems so, it is not just his vices and exaggerations, the defects of his qualities, that make a writer popular. But, primarily, Mr. Cummings’s poems are loved because they are full of sentimentally, of sex, of more or less improper jokes, of elementary lyric insistence.”

During his lifetime, Cummings received a number of honors, including an Academy of American Poets Fellowship, two Guggenheim Fellowships, the Charles Eliot Norton Professorship at Harvard, the Bollingen Prize in Poetry in 1958, and a Ford Foundation grant.

At the time of his death, September 3, 1962, he was the second most widely read poet in the United States, after Robert Frost. He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.

source: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/e-...

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little poem about the little tree represents all that is sweet and good about Christmas. And, the illustrations add a delicate whimsy to each page—the perfect match for this particular e e cummings poem. Darling book.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated poem written by e. e. cummings about a little Christmas tree.

[Fatbardha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy for the little tree 🗣️

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple poem accompanied with sketched illustrations, telling of the comfort and care given to a Christmas tree. Nicely done. I especially liked seeing the poem again, as it was written, spaces and all, at the end of the book.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a New Yorker article about "Tony" by Ed Galing, illustrated by Erin Stead,
Stead referenced this book “I had this soft image in my head of how I wanted to approach the illustrations,” she said. Part of this was inspired by a mood created by Deborah Kogan Ray’s illustrations for “Little Tree,” by E. E. Cummings.

So I want to see the influence.

The illustrations in "Little Tree" are soft, there is a page which has soft lights of a car, and soft lights of a street lamp.
"Little Tree" is a sweet Christmas tree celebration.

[Dan Shonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an unabashed e.e. cummings fan. Deborah Kogan Ray has found this poem about a little Christmas tree, and she has paired a loving poem with colorful illustrations. The illustrations have soft edges and match up with cummings's words perfectly. This book should be in everybody's Christmas family readings. In my opinion, it is only second to Linus's answer to Charlie Brown's question, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" Check it out.

[hannah ♏︎]

for pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade.

a great way to introduce children to poetry! the illustrations make cummings’ work more accessible. decorating and caring for our christmas tree is a form of love/affection we have yet to acknowledge.

“who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?”

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just lovely.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Tree, illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray

E.E. Cummings' lovely poem, Little Tree, is made into a Christmas picture book by illustrator Deborah Kogan Ray, and the result is a gently appealing holiday tale, suffused with warmth and joy. The expressive but understated text describes how a small tree is found, cherished and decorated by a young brother and sister, while the artwork depicts two city children finding the tree in a lot, bringing it home and transforming it, eventually singing "Noel Noel" while gazing on its beauty...

Originally published in Cummings' collection, Tulips & Chimneys , in 1923, Little Tree has been presented as a children's book a number of times, illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray in this version, and by Mary Claire Smith in another. Caldecott Medal-winning author/illustrator Chris Raschka has also created an adaptation of it. This presentation is just lovely, pairing Cummings' gentle, emotionally resonant poem with beautiful, soft-edged illustrations. Recommended to young readers looking for sweet holiday tales, or for classic poems retold through the picture book form.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Cummings' poetry, but hadn't come across Little Tree before finding a copy on Open Library. This is essentially a Christmas poem; I found this out after I'd borrowed it, and read it during July regardless. As ever, Cummings' wordplay is interesting, but the poetry itself is overly simplistic - a given, considering that it is aimed at children. The art style is unusual, and I liked its use of colour. Overall, Little Tree was okay, but it's nothing which I would reread, and my rating hovers between 2 and 3 stars.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

"who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly"

A simple poem about two children who comfort a little tree -- reassuring the tree they will bring it home and decorate it. How proud the tree will be in its place of honour and how happy everyone will be with the hopes and joy of Christmas. Enhanced by the beautiful artwork by Deborah Kogan Ray, a little Christmas blessing for nature and the pleasure it gives to us all. We cannot forget our green spaces and keep them growing for generations to come 💚

[Taylor Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is based on a Christmas tree, for me that was not made clear by the title or the cover art. It is cute, but a but outdated for my shelf. I was not a fan of the writing, I feel as though children will get bored with it easily. It is however, beholding of a very sweet message. Don't judge anything by its size, love all equally.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the side benefits of memorizing poems is finding out about great books. I recently memorized the delightful poem "Maggie, Milly, Molly, and May" by e.e. cummings. I found out that this poem has been made into a book...and also found this book. This particular book would be a fun Christmas gift.

[James Zaksek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot about this poem. I appreciated this because it was one that I have read in the past and remembered it well as I read this little book. I really enjoyed reading this because it reminded me a lot of Charlie Brown and one of Robert Frost's poems as well. While this was a quick one, I really liked it. I can see why kids would like this too!

[Raya Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching and warm

[Bonnie Tesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird, lovely, delightful.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet poem by e e cummings is so sweetly illustrated and depicts two children obtaining a Christmas tree and bring it home to decorate all while loving on the tree.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

(just a review of the poem itself, not this picture book.) Lovely little musing from a college-age cummings on a Christmas tree. When I read it to my mother, she said it should have rhymed. I don't entirely disagree--there is a bit too much saccharine to this as free verse. But, still lovely!

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little poem that has me reflecting on our little Christmas tree this year.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

They liked the poetry and the illustrations helped with understanding the lines.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little Christmas book. I have read it many times. The illustrations are exquisite, and the poem is perfect in its simplicity.

[Scout Collins]

The poem wasn't very good/was written in an off sounding way but the illustrations were good

[Paula Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

prompt# 26 2024 list

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 storytime theme: pine trees and ornaments

Reviewed from a library copy.

[kate. · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cutest christmas story in verse / poetry i have ever seen.
so so so so adorable!!
it reminds me of anne a bit :)

[Theresa Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely, short poem by E.E. Cummings is beautifully enhanced by the soft-color illustrations of Deborah Kogan Ray. The book pictures two young children walking to a city Christmas tree lot and finding a very small tree that no one wants, "little tree/ little silent Christmas tree/ you are so little/ you are more like a flower." They take it home, hugging and comforting it because it has been taken from its home "in the green forest." As they joyfully decorate it with holiday ornaments, they promise "there won't be a single place dark or unhappy."

This is a beautiful book to read to children and to add to your Christmas book collection. I think E.E. Cummings would have loved Deborah Kogan Ray's illustrations.

[Francesca Bertucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book because I thought it would be interesting to read poetry for children that was written by EE cummings. I liked reading the book. I enjoyed how it wasnt just a poem that rhymed. It actually had a deeper meaning then just rhyming. Also, the illustrations were very interesting to look at. I think the overall intention was a little unclear but overall I think its a great poetry book for children

[Katie Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many illustrated versions of this endlessly wonderful poem, but this one is by far my favorite. The colors, tone and shading all illuminate the true warmth and magic of Christmas that children so often experience, even in less-than-typical circumstances. The illustrations are so beautifully matched with the poem that the book practically glows.

[Awenydd Orchantra Faeryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poem itself is a treasure,very simple and touching. I am incredibly inspired by it. It goes very well with the warm and sweet paonted illustrations. One of my favorite children's books I have found in a while.