The Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree is the tale of a little girl named Anna, who is orphaned and sent to live in a convent. The lonely girl befriends, as only a child can, a tiny fir tree. Anna and Tree, as she calls him, grow up together, unlocking the secrets of friendship and sharing the wonders of nature. It is this same profound appreciation and love of nature that the grown-up Anna, now Sister Anthony, passes on to her students.

When Tree is threatened by a winter storm, Sister Anthony, by now an old woman, decides to give up her dearest friend, allowing him to become the most enjoyed and famous tree of all: the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

A perennial holiday favorite, The Christmas Tree is about learning to love and, ultimately, being able to share that love with others.

About the Author
Julie Salamon grew up in Seaman, Ohio, and now lives in New York City with her husband, Bill Abrams, and their children, Roxie and Eli. She worked for The Wall Street Journal for sixteen years as a reporter and film critic. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and The New Republic. She is the author of a novel, White Lies, The Devil's Candy: "The Bonfire of the Vanities" Goes to Hollywood, and of The Net of Dreams: A Family's Search for a Rightful Place.

About the Illustrator
Jill Weber lives on Frajil Farms in Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, with her husband, Frank, and their son, Remy. After working at T. Y. Crowell and Simon & Schuster, she has freelanced as an illustrator and book designer for a number of major publishers. Her most recent works include the Penny Whistle children's series, Expectations: Best Kept Secrets Every New Mother Should Know, and a forthcoming children's book series to be published by Random House.


From the Hardcover edition.