Customer Reviews

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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I enjoy reading this book every year around Christmas time. My mom first read it to me when I was little. I am sophomore in High School now and I still find delight in reading this classic Christmas story. Since I am older now, and have a deeper understanding of compassion, I have discovered a whole new meaning to the story. If you are putting together a Christmas story collection, "The Year of the Perfect Christmas" Tree should be one of your selections.

As a teacher, I found this book so valuable as a teaching tool. It is a book that teaches the value of family, material things, memories, nature, and history. Life cycles, the seasons, and holidays are so important to the family in the book. It teaches how a family values relationships and plans for the future to insure those relationships. There is nothing hap-hazard in this masterfully written book. It is a true gem. I have found that it correlates to all subjects in primary grades and its historical value is supurb. The contribution of Gloria Huston's illustrations are a perfect blend with the text of the book. Text and illustrations hold each other's hands from beginning to end. I looked forward to using this book in my instruction each year. Few books have the perfection this one possesses. Buy it, read it over and over, and pass it on to posterity. Their lives will be richer for having experienced this book.

This book was brought home from school with my daughter in first grade. I was frantically trying to get ready for Christmas and was a little frustrated that at this particularly frantic moment, I was asked to read a book with so many words! With my daughter tucked in I began to read. After getting to the end, I couldn't wait to get downstairs and tell my husband about it. The peace and love that is Christmas is what this book so gently reminds you to focus on. It conjures in me the same emotions as when reading "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. This book should not be missed!

I bought this book in 1988 for my children. We read it every year, along with other holiday favorites. And I cry EVERY time I read it. P.S. for teachers: This is a good read-aloud for all ages.

I grew up in the little town that this story is about, Spruce Pine, North Carolina. I just visited there and purchased the book for my grandaughter. I enjoyed the story so much.
And my grandaughter loved it. The descriptions reminded me so much of home and family and how we enjoyed the holidays together. The language is perfectly aligned with the customs and culture of the Appalachian People. I am so thankful for this book and the wonderful memories it has returned to me.

As the title states, the book is truly "classic". As a small child my Mother would always read this to me while I was tucked in under the sheets on a snowy night. And that is just what this book is meant for: memories. The miracle that happens to the young girl and her mother on Christmas Eve has brought many to a slight misty-eyed smile, as I have witnessed through sharing it. It is more than just the story; the pictures are amazingly beautiful. Certain one of those "togetherness" books in times to share with your family, truely catching that magic of Christmas.

This book is the very best Christmas story book I own (and I own a lot). My little girls ask me to read this over and over and I find it a joy to read it every time. We ALWAYS cry. The kids can feel the love of a mother for her child and the magic of Christmas miracles as we read. We learn that miracles happen because of the love we give to one another. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains and the illustrations make me absoultely homesick, they are breathtaking! I received this book as a gift from my mother and have also given this as gifts which are always very well received. You won't be disappointed wtih this one.

I was fortunate enough to hear the author read this in a graduate course. Later on, I read it to my second grade class and they loved it. Although I live in the mountains of Tennesee, the kids I taught at that time were from "transplanted" families, so they had never heard phrases like "treat poke," "britches," and "crags." This book provided many teachable moments.

My mom also read it and the story brought back memories of her own childhood and Christmas pagents with Santa bringing treat pokes.

Ms. Houston portrays her Appalachian heritage with dignity, pride, and respect. Great book!

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree is recommended to all ages. The author is Gloria Houston. This picture book is very adventureous and fun to read.
In The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, a young girl Ruthie has to get a Balsam Christmas Tree to church on time for Christmas. If she does, she can be the Christmas angel for the Christmas play. Her father was sent to war right before Christmas. Ruthie doesn't get a Christmas present, O' wait she does. That's a mystery for you to find out.
Spend your time to reading The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree because this book is fabulous. It's so funtabulous and great. This book should be read at all ages. It just makes you feel like your right there in the story.

The Year of the perfect Christmas Tree is the most supreme book I've ever read. I think Gloria Houston is the brightest author to write this perfect book.

This book was about a father who was sent out to war and will return on Christmas Eve. The little girl was forlorn because her father hadn't come back yet. So after the play they were having at church the little girls father was standing outside waiting for his little girl.

This is the coolest book I've ever read. I like this book because it is about caring, giving, and love. I think that everyone in the world would love to read this awesome book.