Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.
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Date Published: 2009 (orig. illustrations 2005, orig. text 1954)
Recommended to Margaret by: Memoria Press Kindergarten
Read on December 04, 2013 — I own a copy
The Little Fir Tree is our literature selection for school this week, I believe that we're 13 weeks into the curriculum for Memoria Press Kindergarten. It is a lovely story. Coming into this one, I was thinking it is a lovely cover illustration and I already know that I appreciate the poetic prose of Margaret Wise Brown, I expect to like it. I was right, this is a lovely story for Christmas. It is one of time past that is fun to point out the elements that date the illustrations such as the lamps and other items in the house. I had not read this before, but I'm delighted to add it to our pile of Christmas reads. It's beautiful. It is absolutely beautiful in illustration and imagery, the illustrations for my edition are by Jim LaMarche with a 2005 copyright, and while the story might be from 1954 it holds strong now. There is no commercialization or covering with presents, but family and friends and the importance of celebration together is powerful.
What I wasn't expected was to become teary-eyed and choked up while reading a children's picture book, but that is exactly what happened. The look on my girls faces when they went for the tree in the last scene, oh wow. What an experience. I definitely recommend this book! Especially for sharing hope with others.
I purchased this book for my school lists for Kindergarten and definitely recommend the purchase for others.
Parts of these biographies are taken from the Memoria Press Kindergarten Enrichment Guide, a fabulous resource!
This supplemental guide is organized by week, matching our Classical Core Kindergarten program. It includes an overview of each read-aloud book, author and illustrator biographies, oral reading questions, and a simple language lesson. These activities will help bring each book alive for your student. Also included are resources for the social studies and science lessons, biographies of the artists and composers, and poetry lessons.
Jim LaMarche grew up in Wisconsin, where one of his best childhood memories were the carefree days year-round along the Milwaukee River. He began college as a biology major but switched to art. After attending the University of Wisconsin, he joined a volunteer group and created curriculum for schools in North Dakota. Soon after, he moved to California, where he still resides with his wife and three sons.
Jim LaMarche has illustrated many award-winning children's books, which include The Rainbabies and Little Oh by Laura Krauss Melmed.
This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.