A Forest for Christmas. Michael Harris. Illustrated by Eric Orchard. Halifax, NS: Nimbus, 2007. 40 pp., hardcover, $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55109-589-9. Subject Heading: Christmas stories, Canadian (English). Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9. Review by Helen Norrie. *** /4

excerpt:

Lunenburg County was the Christmas tree capital of the world and Peek-a-Boo was the bushiest spruce tree of all. And that was a very good thing. For it was Peek-a-Boo who hid Emily's tree house ­ and her secret life.

Emily is friends with all the creatures who live in the spruce forest near her home in Lunenburg, NS. When she puts on the red hat that she found on the beach, she learns to talk to the animals and birds. When a rich man, Mr. Buggleysmug, who is planning a new factory in the town, proposes to cut down the forest to give him a view of the harbour, Emily has to come up with an idea to save the trees and the homes of the forest creatures. With the help of the birds and animals, she does accomplish her task, helped a little by a wind storm which catches Mr. Buggleysmug in a frightening situation above the town. Peek-a-Boo becomes the ultimate Christmas tree.

     A Forest for Christmas is a lighthearted Christmas story that will amuse beginning readers and is suitable for reading to grades 1-2. Some of the humour is a little exaggerated. Mr. Buggleysmug, for example, is the ultimate Christmas grouch. "He put on his worst frown, but no one paid any attention. He even counted his money, but it gave him no comfort." In addition, the author spells out the moral: "If you truly love and take care of something, it isn't long before it teaches you its language."

      Harris is a journalist who lives in Lunenburg, NS. Besides radio shows and documentaries, he has written two non-fiction books for adults. Orchard is from Halifax, NS, and studied painting at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. This is his first picture book. His illustrations here are large and colourful but slightly quirky.

Recommended.

Helen Norrie is a former teacher-librarian who writes a regular column on children's books for the Winnipeg Free Press.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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