Maple & Willow's Christmas Tree

Description

Maple and Willow know this is going to be the best Christmas ever because they are getting their first real tree! After a wondrous snowy expedition to pick out the perfect tree, it's time to decorate - until Maple starts sniffling and sneezing. "I wish you weren't allergic to Christmas," Willow says. Well, Maple isn't allergic to Christmas, but because she is allergic to the Christmas tree, it has to go and Willow is not happy about that. Fortunately though, sisterly love, a little hard work, and a lot of imagination save the day and Willow comes up with a wonderful solution so that the sisters can have the best Christmas after all.

Lori Nichols (www.lorinichols.com) spent her childhood in northwestern Pennsylvania, surrounded by maple trees. As she grew, so did her appreciation of trees and nature. Her books about nature-loving sisters Maple and Willow spring from this love, and the New York Times Book Review called them "utterly charming." Lori now lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband and three free-spirited daughters. Many days you can find Lori and her family under their maple tree, swinging in hammocks, playing kickball or just being loud.

"The understated humor, spare language, and white backgrounds convey a calm, minimalist world in which Christmas isn't overwhelming and sisters always work out their differences. Endearing illustrations . . . show the two round-headed, light-skinned little girls enjoying their time together, from sledding to baking to building an unusual snowman. . . . A charming addition to a winning series."-Kirkus Reviews "As in previous books, Nichols admirably captures the sisterly bond, often without words. The ink-and-watercolor artwork is full of real-life emotions. . . . A welcome holiday choice."-Booklist "The fourth book featuring charming young sisters Maple and Willow. . . . Cheerful pastel pencil drawings with plenty of white space appropriately capture the snowy season. Simple yet satisfying, this story of sibling thoughtfulness and surprise successfully evokes the holiday spirit."-School Library Journal "Nichols does a lovely job of showing the closeness between these girls and how that closeness is, at least temporarily, threatened. . . . [Willow's] (truly unexpected) solution to their allergy-driven holiday dilemma will bring smiles to readers' faces, just as it does to Maple's."-Publishers Weekly "The story's resolution is creatively festive. . . . [Nichols's] drawings highlight the emotions and energy of these spirited siblings."-The Horn Book