Customer Reviews

Apple Tree Christmas

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Apple Tree Christmas, Trinka Hakes Noble gives us a glimpse into her own childhood, although the setting is a Midwestern farm in 1881. Katrina is a budding artist, whose favorite "studio" is the old apple tree. Here she gets her best ideas and dreams of the future. After a blizzard/ice storm, the apple tree is no longer standing. Katrina can't believe that Father and Mother are happy to use its old branches for firewood. Nothing seems right anymore, and even Christmas doesn't feel happy. But Christmas morning brings a surprise for our young artist. Mrs. Noble's illustrations are lovely, filled with much detail of life before the turn of the century -- life without all of our modern conveniences. Be sure to add this book to your collection!

I used to check this book out from the library for my children evey year, and the beautiful story with the gentle surprise ending always touched me and my kids. Family togetherness, simple gifts, and overcoming hardship and disappointment are themes here. It is not religious, and so should be appreciated by parents and families of diverse faiths who try to keep Christmas but aren't ready to emphasize the theology found in so many Christmas books.

I wrote the original publisher last year asking for a re-issue so I could send this as a gift, and it is delightful to see it again in print thanks to Sleeping Bear Press. Buy several and support small publishers!

When I was a little girl, my elementary school library carried this book and I constantly checked it out. I loved the beautiful illustrations. This book and the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder greatly shaped my childhood and present outlook on life. Simplicity.

Originally published more than twenty years ago, "Apple Tree Christmas" is an entertainingly written picturebook by award-winning children's book author Trinka Hakes Noble which is enhanced with her watercolor artistry. The old apple tree on the Ansterburg family farm next to their barn had provided sweet apples for pies and apple butter. It's twining vines provided a place to swing and climb. And one special branch was Katrina's spot to sit and sketch and daydream of her future as an artist. But just before Christmas, an ice storm brought down the lovely old tree, and along with it, Katrina's special place to draw and create and dream. Christmas will be ruined this year and for many years to come! Until Papa did some very special things that enabled the old apple tree to continue as a part of an Ansterburg Christmas. Sweet, charming, entertaining, Sleeping Bear Press is to be congratulated for bringing Trinka Hakes Noble's "Apple Tree Christmas" back into print for the Christmas season enjoyment of a whole new generation of young readers.

I was delighted to find Apple Tree Christmas is in print again. As a child who grew up in the area where Trinka grew up, I cherish the images the story churns up in my own childhood. The story is a perfect illustration of the real meaning of Christmas. It captures the snowy whimsical nature of Christmas in Michigan perfectly. A must have for any mid-western child, or any child that matter!

The Ansterbergs live in the end of their old barn which they share with their animals, and they look forward to the time when Papa will be able to build them a real house. Every Fall they harvest the apples from their old apple tree, and then the tree is free for the two girls to play. One makes a swing out of the vine which wraps around the trunk and branches; the other makes a drawing "studio" out of a broad limb. In the days filled with hard work and chores, the tree provides a great deal of joy to the children. But one night a blizzard destroys the tree, and for two weeks before Christmas the barn is filled with the sounds of Papa sawing the tree up into firewood. The girls are so distracted by grief that they are barely able to prepare their homemade Christmas gifts for the family. Even on Christmas Eve, he stays up late into the night, sawing. On Christmas morning Papa unveils their presents: a section of vine, nailed to the overhead beam, with homemade rag doll astride, and a drawing board affixed to the rescued "studio" limb, adorned with real paper and willow charcoal. The second child draws a picture to commemorate these events in 1881, and it stays on the family's wall for many years.

This book is exceptional in many ways: the drawings are skillfully evocative, and the text is just right in its level of descriptive detail and emotion. The story compellingly draws its audience in to share the girls' fear as they huddle under the table listening to ice strike their roof, watching Mama feed the fire that keeps the cold at bay. And listeners are disappointed along with the girls when their favorite place to play is destroyed. When the children's joy is restored due through the generous love of their parents, the effect is of a deeply joyful experience of a strong family which chooses to embrace love, hard work, and determination in the face of significant challenges. It's an outstanding addition to the Christmas basket.

A book reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.

Other reviewers have already given account of the basics of this book and its plot, so I won't be redundant with that. I just want to say that this is an incredible book that leaves an impression, not just another Christmas book for children. It's not a book you read and forget, whether you be child or adult.

I used to check this out for my daughter from the library at Christmas time and we read it over and over. Then I bought it from eBay and it is actually signed by the author. Otherwise, if I had been smarter I would have looked up a new copy of it.

I think every child should have this book. I put ours on a shelf on display each Christmas. And yes, the illustrations are awesome!

I purchased this book as an upcoming Christmas gift for my children. When it arrived, I was intrigued by the charming illustrations and deeply touched by the story. I found myself lost in the captivating storyline, wondering what it would be like to live in a cozy barn with such a loving, caring family. I truly hope that the author will write a series of books about the Ansterburg family. I would love to read more about them....as, I'm sure, others feel the same. I tip my hat to the author, Trinka Hakes Noble, for sharing this treasured book with the world. Such a heartwarming gift is truly hard to find.....Thank you.

I gave this book to two separate families for a Christmas present.I was so excited to see it back in print. The story is about how the love of a father can overcome even hardship.

"Apple Tree Christmas" by Trinka Hakes Noble is a delightful 9 3/8 inch by 11 3/8 inch children's Christmas book. Just as a huge apple tree has deep roots and strong boughs, so the "Apple Tree Christmas" possesses strong strands of family ties and boundless roots of love. Every other page is a full page full color illustration which portrays the personalities and feelings of each character in the story. Children will love the illustrations which add to the meaning and feeling of the story. The reader readily recognizes that Trinka Hakes Noble is writing from her personal experiences from growing up on a small farm in southern Michigan.

An old beloved family apple tree, barn living, a tremendous snow blizzard and ice storm, and the simple Christmas where family ties and love are more important than an elaborate Christmas celebration, all add up to a wonderful Christmas children's tale.

Katrina and her sister, Josie, Mamma, Pappa, Mrs. Wooly and her lambs, Old Dan the family horse, and Sweet Clover, the family cow all live together in a barn. Near the barn stood an old apple tree overgrown with wild grape vines. It is late in autumn and snow is coming. One day the girls stay home from school to help pick and sort apples. They sorted apples in piles for cider, applesauce, pies, apple butter, lunch pails, food for Old Dan, and decorations for their Christmas tree. After all the apples were picked, Josie used one of the wild grape vines for a swing and Katrina climbed up on a limb that made a perfect drawing board. Katrina would dream and draw on this limb until the sun glowed low in the winter sky. One night a tremendous snow blizzard batters the barn and continues for three days. On the third night the blizzard turned into a heavy ice storm. After the storm the family discovers that their beloved apple tree split in half and lies dismembered in the snow and ice. Everyone is really sad. No more apples for cider, pies, applesauce, apple butter, and Christmas decorations, but most of all there won't be a grapevine swing for Josie or a drawing board for Katrina. You will want to read this book to find out how this dead old apple tree provides a wonderful Christmas surprise for the family.

This book is a wonderful portrayal of farm life at Christmas on a southern Michigan farm in 1881. The only negative that I found was the fact that no mention is made of the true meaning of Christmas anywhere in the book. That would normally result in me giving a four star rating but because the book was so meaningful and nostalgic I gave it a five star rating.