My family has read this one for over a decade of Christmases now. It has a fun sense of rhyme and a positive message about how when you are generous, it inspires others to do the same.

Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree came by special delivery. Full and fresh and glistening green--the biggest tree he had ever seen. He dashed downstairs to open the door--This was the moment he'd waited for.

I loved, loved, loved Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. It celebrates giving in a fun and playful way. Mr. Willowby starts off a long chain of giving when he chops off the top of his too-tall Christmas tree. A tree that is splendid in every other way. He gives the tree-top to the upstairs maid. She's delighted. Very delighted. How thoughtful! How cheery! But the tree is too-tall for her small room. The top must go! Chances are you can predict at this point how the story will go. But that doesn't mean it is in any way less delightful. This little tree-top gets passed down and re-trimmed again and again and again and again and again. And it's just WONDERFUL to see how much happiness and cheer it brings to others.

I loved the premise. I loved the writing. The rhyming was delightful. It worked very well for me! I think this one would make a great read-aloud. I also loved how uplifting it is. (After reading Baboushka and the Three Kings, I needed a cheery story!)

Why didn't someone tell me about this wonderful and charming picture book?! Why?! Well, I am glad to have discovered it now!

Which Christmas books would you consider classic? Which would you recommend? ( )

I love this book from the charming endpapers to the full circle with the very tip of the tree coming back to the Willowby’s home. Adorable. ( )

A cute, funny Christmas story that has become a family favorite. We read it several times a year during December. ( )

When Mr. Willowby has his annual Christmas tree delivered, only to discover that it is too tall to fit in his parlor, he has his butler lop off the top of it. This top - a small tree in its own right - is given to the upstairs maid, who in turn lops off its top, which is taken the next day by Timm the gardener. Timm's wife also lops of the top of their "tree," with this top being found by a local bear. And so it goes, as each new person or creature finds the lopped-off top and uses it as their own Christmas tree. The story concludes with the mice, back in Mr. Willowby's own house, enjoying a tiny, tiny tree, while their human counterpart enjoys his massive one...

Originally published in 1963, and reprinted in this edition from 2000, Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree is a picture-book I have long been aware of, but had never happened to pick up hitherto. I'm glad that I finally did, as I found Robert Barry's rhyming tale quite engaging, and his sweetly humorous illustrations appealing. I appreciated the circular narrative here, starting out at Mr. Willowby's house, going off into the wider world (including the forest), and then winding up back at Mr. Willowby's house again. Recommended to anyone looking for fun, sweet picture-books for the Christmas season, especially if their taste tends more towards the vintage! ( )