About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a disappointment or feels that their life is not going according to plan. It is a gentle, lyrical folktale about three trees that have big dreams for their future: one wants to be a treasure chest, another a mighty sailing ship, and the third wants to point people to God from a mountaintop. Instead, they are cut down and turned into a humble manger, a small fishing boat, and two rough beams of wood. Through these unexpected turns, the trees discover they are part of a much bigger story involving the life of Jesus. It is a comforting read for children ages 4 to 8, emphasizing that even when things seem to go wrong, there is a higher purpose and beauty to be found in the journey. Parents will appreciate how it introduces themes of resilience and faith without being overly heavy-handed.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The third tree's fate involves being fashioned into a cross. While the text is gentle, the description of being carried by a tired man through a shouting crowd and the eventual death of that man could be upsetting for sensitive children. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the concept of the crucifixion. Specifically, the third tree is 'nailed' together to form a cross, and the story mentions a man being nailed to that cross. A child might ask what 'nailed' means in this context or why the people were shouting at the man.
Ideal Reader
A child who feels 'stuck' or discouraged, or a family looking for a meaningful way to discuss the connection between Christmas and Easter.
Parent Prep
Read the final third of the book ahead of time to decide how you want to explain the crucifixion scene. A child expressing frustration that things aren't 'fair' or that they didn't get what they wanted.
Age Experience
Preschoolers will enjoy the personification of the trees and the 'search and find' nature of the ending. Older children will better grasp the metaphor of deferred dreams and the historical/religious context.
What Makes It Special
It is a rare 'bridge' book that connects the birth, life, and death of Jesus through the unique lens of nature and folklore.
Read plot summary
The story follows three trees on a mountaintop, each with a specific ambition for what they will become when they are cut down. The first tree wants to hold gold and jewels; the second wants to carry kings across the ocean; the third wants to stay on the hill and point to heaven. Years later, woodcutters come. The first tree becomes a feeding trough, the second a simple fishing boat, and the third is tucked away in a dark lumberyard. Eventually, their paths intersect with the life of Jesus (birth, ministry, and crucifixion), revealing that their original desires were fulfilled in ways far greater than they imagined.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The trees were disappointed when they weren't made into what they expected. Have you ever been disappointed by a change in plans?
2
The second tree thought he was too small and weak to carry a king. What made him realize he was actually carrying the King of Heaven?
3
The third tree wanted to stay on the mountaintop to point to God. How did it end up pointing people to God anyway?
4
Each tree served a purpose they didn't choose. If you were a tree, what would your 'big dream' be?
