Little Spruce – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Christmas, family, magic, belonging, love.
Children’s book title: Little Spruce.
Children’s author: Sital Gorasia Chapman.
Children’s illustrator: Vicky Lommatzsch.
Genre: Festive picture book.
Published by: Sweet Cherry Publishing.
ISBN: 9781802632514.
Recommended for children aged: 3+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback September 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: Early readers.
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Our review:
Deep in a forest
That sparkles with snow,
Is a magical place
Where Christmas trees grow.
Little Spruce is the “teeniest, tiniest” Christmas tree in the forest. Every year families come to choose their perfect tree to decorate with lights and baubles. And every year Little Spruce is left behind, hidden from view and left alone when all the other trees have been taken.
As the Northern Lights swirl above him, Little Spruce decides to finally make himself noticeable. Decorating himself in sparkling snowflakes and ice crystals, he stands as tall and proud as he can and waits for his perfect family to claim him.
Little Spruce had been seen!
His spot had been spotted.
He was swiftly dug up,
And carefully potted.
Being a Christmas tree is everything Little Spruce dreamed it would be. He is beautifully decorated and carefully guards the presents that pile up beneath his branches. When Christmas Day arrives, he is the centre of attention in the happy, loving household.
But then Christmas is over. The decorations are put away and Little Spruce is left wondering what will happen to him now. When he is accidentally taken away with the rubbish he faces imminent danger in the jaws of the terrifying chipper machine.
That night as the Northern Lights
Swirled through the air,
Little Spruce made a plan
To get out of there.
With the help of a touch of special Christmas magic, Little Spruce is reunited with his family and safely planted in their garden, to be enjoyed and celebrated all year round.
Little Spruce is a charming festive tale. The plot is similar to Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale The Fir Tree but with a modern setting and a (thankfully) much happier ending. The easy rhyming text makes for an accessible read that young children will enjoy joining in with.
The beautiful illustrations are full of inclusive characters and feature a blended family. The secular celebrations and focus on sustainability are highly relevant to a modern readership. In addition, there is a bonus audiobook accessible via a QR code and read by Santa Claus himself!
Little Spruce is a heart-warming Christmas story that would make a perfect addition to a festive storytelling session or child’s stocking.
Many thanks to Sweet Cherry Publishing for the review copy.
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If you like Little Spruce by Sital Gorasia Chapman and Vicky Lommatzsch you might also like: our reviews of Merry Whatmas? by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar, The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson and Santa’s New Reindeer by Caroline Crowe and Jess Pauwels.
Browse our Christmas topic book list.
