Publication Date: 14 October 2021

The Blurb

Deep in a snowy wood stands a little pine tree with a special destiny: when it grows up, it’s going to be the famous Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square!

The Christmas Pine is based on a true story. It celebrates a special tradition that stretches back over seventy years. Every year, the Mayor of Oslo in Norway presents the British people with a spectacular Christmas tree. The tree is a symbol of peace and friendship, and a thank you for the UK’s support during World War II.

Each year, the UK Poetry Society asks a poet to write a poem to welcome the tree. Julia Donaldson originally wrote The Christmas Pine to celebrate the 2020 Christmas tree. The poem was performed by London schoolchildren, and displayed in Trafalgar Square.

The Review

From the depths of a Norwegian forest, we watch as a little pine tree grows and makes it’s journey to Trafalgar Square to become the Christmas Tree in this fabulously festive ode to the joy of the season.

Victoria’s stunningly beautiful, atmospheric illustrations bring Julia’s poem to life, with light and love shining from every page. We learn how pine trees grow, and at the end, how the Norwegian tree farmers ensure that they keep their forests alive by planting more trees than they cut down.

Celebrating the carols we sing together and hopeful of a white Christmas, this is bound to become a firm festive favourite.

Huge thanks to Scholastic for sending me a copy.