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Night Tree
By moonlight in the quiet forest, a young boy and his family decorate their favorite tree with popcorn, apples, tangerines, and sunflower-seed balls as a gift for the animals of the woods. “Sure to become a Christmas favorite, this beautifully illustrated story of a family’s unusual tradition brings to life the true spirit of Christmas.”-- American Bookseller
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 1991
12 people are currently reading
1336 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
302 books402 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
August 24, 2018
I got this on the title. I didn't know it was a Christmas book. So Christmas in August. I'm as bad as the Retail stores. You can't skip Halloween. Anyway.
This book was such a surprise. I didn't know anything about it and that's how you want to be. Don't read any more reviews where they might give away the wonderful surprise in the book. It's not your typical kind of Xmas book. It's such a sweet surprise and such a great way to spend Xmas Eve.
I went ahead and read this too the kids and they loved it. They want to actually do this and I don't know about that in this city, so I hope they forget by the time Xmas is here. They gave it 5 stars too.
The family is looking for their Xmas tree on Xmas Eve. They are bundled up as a family and everyone is eagerly awaiting this event.
I love the art and the moonlight and the ending. It's so sweet. It made me smile.
This book was such a surprise. I didn't know anything about it and that's how you want to be. Don't read any more reviews where they might give away the wonderful surprise in the book. It's not your typical kind of Xmas book. It's such a sweet surprise and such a great way to spend Xmas Eve.
I went ahead and read this too the kids and they loved it. They want to actually do this and I don't know about that in this city, so I hope they forget by the time Xmas is here. They gave it 5 stars too.
The family is looking for their Xmas tree on Xmas Eve. They are bundled up as a family and everyone is eagerly awaiting this event.
I love the art and the moonlight and the ending. It's so sweet. It made me smile.
January 1, 2024
This is the time of year when the debate is raging over when to take down the tree. The family in this picture book has a tradition that results in the animals "undecorating" the tree. Each year they go into the forest to "their tree" with popcorn strings and other edible ornaments. After decking the tree with their handmade gifts and fruit, they sit on a blanket to drink hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols before leaving the tree for the animals to enjoy. Such a lovely way to celebrate the season and help the animals and birds have enough food for the winter. Eve Bunting's story is engaging and the colorful illustrations by Ted Rand beautifully set the scene. A classic to be enjoyed year after year.🎄
December 7, 2009
I love the idea of this story! You start out thinking the family is going to find a tree to chop down and bring home on Christmas Eve but, surprise! they are actually finding the special tree they decorate for the forest creatures every year in the woods. They bring apple and seed "ornaments" for the creatures, hot chocolate for themselves, sing songs and share some family time. The illustrations were not quite all I could have hoped for but overall this is a delightful and different "Christmas Tree" story and is especially perfect for nature/animal lovers.
January 10, 2025
I have to admit that when I started reading Eve Bunting and Ted Rand's (text and images respectively) 1991 picture book Night Tree on Open Library, I first thought that the traditional nuclear family of Night Tree (father, mother, son and daughter, definitely not in any manner unconventional or diverse, but no, I was not really in any way expecting this either) would be shown by Bunting and Rand as sneaking out on Christmas Eve to chop down a Christmas tree in the wild for their home under the cover of darkness so to speak (and which I personally would certainly be finding rather problematic and environmentally suspect).
So yes indeed, I am thus really happy (and actually even appreciatively ecstatic) that the Christmas Eve tradition being related by the young first person narrator in Night Tree (and with Bunting's text nicely capturing an authentically and realistically age appropriate tone and thankfully not having the young boy be sounding like an adult trying to imitate a child) is in fact the total opposite of what what I was expecting, with the family in Night Tree being described and depicted by Eve Bunting's words and Rand's illustrations as leaving their house in the family pickup truck to decorate a tree in the woods with popcorn and fruit for the forest creatures, so that local wildlife (raccoons, deer, squirrels, birds etc.) will also have a Christmas treat. And while the family sitting on a blanket sipping hot chocolate after they have decorated their tree with wildlife friendly treats, the songs and the depicted and espied animals make the combination of Eve Bunting's story and Ted Rand's artwork for Night Tree cozy and more than a bit like a typical Christmas card, both my adult reading self and also my inner child absolute adore Night Tree and majorly love love love that Rand's final illustrative spreads for Night Tree shows the young boy, shows the narrator tucked in bed and imagining many many realistically depicted animals (including a bear) frequenting the tree and munching on the popcorn, apples and the like (and that yes, I do like Ted Rand's watercolours, which create a both festive and delightfully eco-friendly visual atmosphere, just a wee bit more than what Eve Bunting is textually presenting in Night Tree and that I also find it totally magical how the night sky with its stars is also illustratively present on our young narrator's blanket, but that together words and artwork for Night Tree work delightfully and consistently well together to produce a lovely and enchanting Yuletide picture book and most definitely being a solidly five star both verbal and visual experience for me).
So yes indeed, I am thus really happy (and actually even appreciatively ecstatic) that the Christmas Eve tradition being related by the young first person narrator in Night Tree (and with Bunting's text nicely capturing an authentically and realistically age appropriate tone and thankfully not having the young boy be sounding like an adult trying to imitate a child) is in fact the total opposite of what what I was expecting, with the family in Night Tree being described and depicted by Eve Bunting's words and Rand's illustrations as leaving their house in the family pickup truck to decorate a tree in the woods with popcorn and fruit for the forest creatures, so that local wildlife (raccoons, deer, squirrels, birds etc.) will also have a Christmas treat. And while the family sitting on a blanket sipping hot chocolate after they have decorated their tree with wildlife friendly treats, the songs and the depicted and espied animals make the combination of Eve Bunting's story and Ted Rand's artwork for Night Tree cozy and more than a bit like a typical Christmas card, both my adult reading self and also my inner child absolute adore Night Tree and majorly love love love that Rand's final illustrative spreads for Night Tree shows the young boy, shows the narrator tucked in bed and imagining many many realistically depicted animals (including a bear) frequenting the tree and munching on the popcorn, apples and the like (and that yes, I do like Ted Rand's watercolours, which create a both festive and delightfully eco-friendly visual atmosphere, just a wee bit more than what Eve Bunting is textually presenting in Night Tree and that I also find it totally magical how the night sky with its stars is also illustratively present on our young narrator's blanket, but that together words and artwork for Night Tree work delightfully and consistently well together to produce a lovely and enchanting Yuletide picture book and most definitely being a solidly five star both verbal and visual experience for me).
December 19, 2010
Oh, I just love the premise of this one. A family, who readers see have a Christmas tree of their own at home, also have a tree outdoors in the middle of a nearby forested area. Every year the father, mother, son, and daughter take a lot of time to make preparations and then they go to “their” tree and decorate it.
It’s a lovely story and will be very much appreciated by young children who love nature and animals, especially wild animals. It might just fire up their imaginations. It’s a sweet family story too, about a family that has a lovely tradition.
I have to say I was judgmental about one thing: I had to look up the original publication date of this and it is the 1991 edition that I read. I was rather shocked because all 4 family members, including two young children, pile into the front seat of the family truck, and there’s nary a shoulder or seat belt in sight used for their trip.
I did enjoy the pictures. I especially enjoyed the way light was used on the family member’s faces and their facial expressions. I liked the animals and the tree decorations too. They’re not my very favorite illustrations but I think I would have loved them even more when I was a kid.
It’s a lovely story and will be very much appreciated by young children who love nature and animals, especially wild animals. It might just fire up their imaginations. It’s a sweet family story too, about a family that has a lovely tradition.
I have to say I was judgmental about one thing: I had to look up the original publication date of this and it is the 1991 edition that I read. I was rather shocked because all 4 family members, including two young children, pile into the front seat of the family truck, and there’s nary a shoulder or seat belt in sight used for their trip.
I did enjoy the pictures. I especially enjoyed the way light was used on the family member’s faces and their facial expressions. I liked the animals and the tree decorations too. They’re not my very favorite illustrations but I think I would have loved them even more when I was a kid.
November 22, 2018
A family sets out on their annual trek to find their Christmas tree in this engaging holiday story from the prolific Eve Bunting. Rather than cutting it down, however, they decorate it right there in the woods, hanging garlands of popcorn, apples and oranges, and homemade sunflower-seed-balls on it, for the local animal population. Then, in the quiet of the dark night, they sit and watch, drinking hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols...
Simply told, and beautifully illustrated, Night Tree is just a lovely book, with a quiet, contemplative feeling that will leave the reader feeling peaceful and content. Like another reviewer, I found myself wishing, as I was reading, that I had a tradition like this, for my own holiday observances. How wonderful, to track the growth of the same tree, over the years, and to return to it each December! I was reminded of the story in Patricia Polacco's Uncle Vova's Tree , which also includes an outdoor tree, decorated with treats for the animals. Recommended (highly!) to young readers who are looking for something a little different, in their Christmas tree stories.
Simply told, and beautifully illustrated, Night Tree is just a lovely book, with a quiet, contemplative feeling that will leave the reader feeling peaceful and content. Like another reviewer, I found myself wishing, as I was reading, that I had a tradition like this, for my own holiday observances. How wonderful, to track the growth of the same tree, over the years, and to return to it each December! I was reminded of the story in Patricia Polacco's Uncle Vova's Tree , which also includes an outdoor tree, decorated with treats for the animals. Recommended (highly!) to young readers who are looking for something a little different, in their Christmas tree stories.
February 20, 2021
What a sweet story about a different kind of Christmas tree.
This would be a fun tradition to do at Christmas time with the whole family.
This would be a fun tradition to do at Christmas time with the whole family.
November 29, 2011
This is one of those books that made me say, "I wish we had done this with our girls when they were little." It would've made a nice Christmas tradition.
A family of four heads out on December 24th to decorate their Christmas tree--an evergreen in the middle of a forgotten wood at the edge of town. Every Christmas Eve they don the tree with strings of popcorn, apples, and tangerines, and balls of sunflower seeds with pressed millet and honey. They sprinkle nuts and breadcrumbs around the base of the tree for "the little creatures who can't climb very well". They sit quietly for a while, hoping the animals will come and enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas carols while they wait. Back at home in bed, the boy lies in bed imagining all the forest creatures feasting on their tree decorations. Ted Rand's illustrations are a perfect match for the gentle nature of the story.
Isn't that just a nice story? What a lovely holiday tradition, and what wonderful memories it would create.
The only thing I didn't like was those hot-magenta hats the father and boy wore. They were so pinky-bright, especially alongside the bright red coat the boy wore. It made me wonder if Rand was purposely limiting himself to those two bright colors, and it was very distracting for me. Other than that, just gorgeous.
A family of four heads out on December 24th to decorate their Christmas tree--an evergreen in the middle of a forgotten wood at the edge of town. Every Christmas Eve they don the tree with strings of popcorn, apples, and tangerines, and balls of sunflower seeds with pressed millet and honey. They sprinkle nuts and breadcrumbs around the base of the tree for "the little creatures who can't climb very well". They sit quietly for a while, hoping the animals will come and enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas carols while they wait. Back at home in bed, the boy lies in bed imagining all the forest creatures feasting on their tree decorations. Ted Rand's illustrations are a perfect match for the gentle nature of the story.
Isn't that just a nice story? What a lovely holiday tradition, and what wonderful memories it would create.
The only thing I didn't like was those hot-magenta hats the father and boy wore. They were so pinky-bright, especially alongside the bright red coat the boy wore. It made me wonder if Rand was purposely limiting himself to those two bright colors, and it was very distracting for me. Other than that, just gorgeous.
January 4, 2018
This is such a cute book! I read this for my mom's class just before their Christmas party and they loved it (and so did my mom). This is just a simple, sweet, feel good story that's perfect for the holiday season.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
December 11, 2024
Just magical. I might need to add this to my collection of Christmas books.
October 3, 2020
I could feel every bit of this book, as if I was a part of the family carrying out its treasured winter holiday tradition.
November 16, 2022
I just love traditions - I love learning about other people's traditions too. This family has a fun one about going out into the woods on Christmas Eve.
Ages: 4 - 9
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Ages: 4 - 9
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
December 27, 2014
This is a lovely book. A family goes into the woods to decorate "their" Christmas tree. (This was a tiny bit confusing at first...my daughter asked if they were homeless and that's why they didn't take the tree back to their house to decorate.). They decorate it with strings of popcorn, fruit, seeds.... The tree looks lovely and the family enjoys sitting under it, drinking hot chocolate. Then they leave, knowing that the animals will have a lovely treat on Christmas morning. The illustrations are wonderful!
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December 10, 2014Karis wants to do this!
July 15, 2015
Very sweet. :) Makes me want to do this with my future offspring.
December 17, 2019
Reading this book is a Christmas tradition for our family. Simple and lovely and sweet.
Reading it again and again this year, with the same results. Simple. Lovely. Sweet.
Reading it again and again this year, with the same results. Simple. Lovely. Sweet.
September 20, 2018
Tiếp tục cơn ghiền đọc truyện Giáng sinh giữa tháng 9 Sài Gòn mưa gió bão bùng bằng cuốn này :))) Nhìn cái bìa là đã thấy muốn đọc rồi, down được sách về mừng húm luôn ^^ Câu chuyện đơn giản nhưng lại vô cùng ý nghĩa, đặc biệt là phần tranh vẽ minh họa đẹp không chê vào đâu được <3 <3 <3 Mấy cuốn truyện thiếu nhi kiểu này chỉ cần hình vẽ đẹp tôi xiêu lòng mất rồi ha ha ha :D
Đọc xong cái phải lên Youtube nghe bài "O Come, All Ye Faithful", nghe hết từ version của Pentatonix đến version thánh ca nhà thờ :))))) Chưa bao giờ muốn Noel đến sớm như lúc này he he he ^^
Đọc xong cái phải lên Youtube nghe bài "O Come, All Ye Faithful", nghe hết từ version của Pentatonix đến version thánh ca nhà thờ :))))) Chưa bao giờ muốn Noel đến sớm như lúc này he he he ^^
January 12, 2020
Really nice story that follows an unexpected path. Don't be surprised if your kids want to start a new tradition.
December 12, 2021
Wonderful read aloud about traditions at Christmas for a family...
March 18, 2023
3.5 stars. A family decorates a pine tree in the woods every year with goodies the birds and animals will enjoy. Christmas. 3-7 yo.
November 26, 2010
In this touching Christmas story, a family has made it a tradition to go and find a tree on the night before Christmas.....but, not just any tree, a special tree selected in the moonlit forest. Once they select the tree, they decorate it in the woods for all of the forest creatures to enjoy.
There is popcorn garland, apples and oranges, sunflower seed balls made with pressed millet and honey, and scattered under the tree for the tiniest of creatures to enjoy are shelled nuts, breadcrumbs and pieces of apples.
Once they are done decorating, the dad spreads a blanket for the family to sit briefly and drink the hot chocolate from their thermos. The listen to the birds singing in the distance. The birds are other forest animals watch from afar at the feast waiting for them. Soon once the family has left, and the animals feel safe, it is time for them to celebrate.
This book is fabulous. It is the perfect story to instill the true spirit of giving to for little ones during the holidays. Gorgeous illustrations in colorful design by Ted Rand, along with this beautiful story, makes Night Tree, a holiday book to be read year after year. It was first published in 1991. I Loved this book. Highly Recommended.
Rating - 5/5 stars
December 2, 2009
Strong families have traditions that bind them together through the memory of shared experiences, repeated year after year. This sweet story tells about one family's tradition of decking an outdoor Christmas tree with homemade, edible ornaments, then enjoying a hot-cocoa picnic with Christmas carols before leaving the tree for the wildlife. This story is told from the perspective of one of the children and warmly illustrated by Ted Rand.
Night Tree is pleasing not only because it provides a new variation on the tradition of bringing home a Christmas tree to decorate. Its outdoor setting creates a contrast between the snowy cold and the warmth of the family's warmth, as they bundle against the cold and crowd together on a blanket to sing while hot cocoa warms their hands. There is a certain romantic appeal to the idea of animals benefiting from the family's celebration (pictured in the final scene), and a feeling that the family's warmth has overflowed toward other living things. Like some of Bunting's other stories, it verges on the sentimental, but is still a great addition to a Christmas reading basket.
Night Tree is pleasing not only because it provides a new variation on the tradition of bringing home a Christmas tree to decorate. Its outdoor setting creates a contrast between the snowy cold and the warmth of the family's warmth, as they bundle against the cold and crowd together on a blanket to sing while hot cocoa warms their hands. There is a certain romantic appeal to the idea of animals benefiting from the family's celebration (pictured in the final scene), and a feeling that the family's warmth has overflowed toward other living things. Like some of Bunting's other stories, it verges on the sentimental, but is still a great addition to a Christmas reading basket.
December 2, 2011
For my multicultural book on religion, I chose to read "Night Tree" by Eve Bunting. This book tells the story of a young girl and her family who goes out to the woods on Christmas Eve and decorates a tree in the forest as part of their own family tradition. The girl looks forward to it every year, and enjoys celebrating Christmas the next day after they decorate the tree. I chose this book as a multicultural book because it discusses the holiday of Christmas, along with the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree. Many religions and families do not do this every year like many Christians celebrate Christmas, which is why I felt it would be a good book for discussion. I would read this in my classroom, however, it would be important to recognize that the traditions and holidays discussed in the book are not practiced by all.
June 30, 2012
This story shares with us a family’s special Christmas tradition. Not only does Eve Bunting take us there with her details and descriptions of the forest but we learn so many things about the kindness and closeness of the family. As the young boy tells us about their short trip we can see that he admires his younger sister’s cute ways, respects her place in the family, and enjoys his role as the big brother. The story is enjoyable to read on its own, noting Eve Bunting's fine storytelling skills, but then it is really brought to life with the beautiful and realistic illustrations. The generosity of the family’s tradition, their true Christmas spirit, and the respect they have for each other and their surroundings all add to my love for this book. It is worth reading over and over each Christmas Season.
December 6, 2023
We got this Christmas book from the library and it was a new one for me. I really enjoyed it. It was a bit over my toddler's head but a slightly older kid would enjoy it. Something about it reminded me of Owl Moon, which was a favorite of mine as a child. I guess it's a similar story: a child tells of going into the woods with a parent (or parents, in this case) for a special activity. This made me wish I had my own tradition of decorating a tree with food for the animals. Perhaps my son and I will try this out in the "forest" near our house on a winter night in a few years.
ETA 2023: We own this book now, although I can't recall how it made its way into our permanent collection. I still really enjoy it. F(5) and L(9) are both claiming it as one of their favorite Christmas books in our collection this year.
ETA 2023: We own this book now, although I can't recall how it made its way into our permanent collection. I still really enjoy it. F(5) and L(9) are both claiming it as one of their favorite Christmas books in our collection this year.
December 21, 2016
I stumbled upon this book when googling "classic Christmas books." This book had great reviews so I checked it out from the library to see what I thought. I can tell why this book is well loved. I truly enjoyed the message of sharing not only with people during the holidays, but also the animals too. In the book a family goes to a favorite tree near their home yearly and puts strung popcorn, ornaments made with honey and sunflower seeds, fruit etc. on a tree to be enjoyed by wild animals. They hope to see some animals enjoying their gift but have to leave it to their imaginations to know what animals will partake of their gift. I particularly liked how the illustrator made it really look cold by seeing the people's breaths.
March 22, 2010
The story of a family who continues a family tradition during the Christmas season. They travel to the forest to find a tree to decorate. With them they bring popcorn, fruit and sunflower seeds. In the end the tree is food for the animals. The book never focuses on the family. We don't know their names, we only learn about what they are doing. They focus on the end result.....food for the animals and the continuation of the tradition. Written for grades 4 and in poetry which adds a lovely touch. A great book to teach children the importance of sharing during the holiday season.
November 2, 2010
Night Tree is about a family who goes into the forest to decorate a tree for the forest animals. They spend time to enjoy the quietness of the forest.
This story lends itself well to writing using the five senses. The story draws you in and you feel as if you really are in the quiet, dark forest with the animals.
The students could be taught to use their five senses in descriptive ways in sentences. The teacher could teach students in how to show and not tell through your sentences.
This story lends itself well to writing using the five senses. The story draws you in and you feel as if you really are in the quiet, dark forest with the animals.
The students could be taught to use their five senses in descriptive ways in sentences. The teacher could teach students in how to show and not tell through your sentences.
February 6, 2011
This is one of my favorite December books to read since it is not centered on the Christmas holiday it is centered on family, building memories and kindness to animals. I love reading this book with the children in close and with all the lights turned out and a flashlight. We have even followed this book up with a project of making bird feeders for the trees outside the library with large pine cones and bird seeds.
December 18, 2012
The illustrations and text work beautifully together. I always show the title page and ask the students what they think the family is doing. Sometimes we discuss the clues in the illustrations that showed the temperature of the setting. Other times we discuss the animals in the story and what they eat. And sometimes we simply read it and let the author and illustrator do the talking. This is one of my favorite holiday stories--quiet and gentle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews