Andersen's strange tale of remembrance and regret hardly seems likely holiday fare for children. A small fir tree longs to grow and is never happy with his lot although the wind and the sunbeams tell him to be happy in his youth. Finally, the fir is chopped for a Christmas tree and revels in the celebrations. But in the spring when the brittle tree is hauled down from the attic and put in the bonfire, he realizes too late, ``if only I had been happy when I could.'' Using a variety of watercolor washes, chalk overlays, and fine line, Watts reinforces the storyline, but even her frequent use of yellow and orange cannot warm up this bleak story that suggests to adults that youth is wasted on the young.
The Fir Tree is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The tale is about a fir tree so anxious to grow up, so anxious for greater things, that he cannot appreciate living in the moment. It's often read in winter time around Christmas.
The Fir Tree
The Fir Tree is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The tale is about a fir tree so anxious to grow up, so anxious for greater things, that he cannot appreciate living in the moment. It's often read in winter time around Christmas.
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From the B&N Reads Blog