Official Review: The Little Scrub Christmas Tree

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bookowlie
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Official Review: The Little Scrub Christmas Tree

Post by bookowlie »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Little Scrub Christmas Tree" by Dr. Raymond Dunn.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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Dr. Raymond Dunn’s The Little Scrub Christmas Tree is an illustrated children’s book about a Christmas tree farm that has different types of trees. The trees compete with each other to be the best tree at the farm. For example, Roots is a Colorado blue spruce who shows off his long needles, and Barks, a Fraser Fir, feels he has the nicest shape. In a nearby forest, scrub trees grow wild and are considered unattractive. When a crow unwittingly carries a pine seed from the scrub forest to the farm, a scrub tree, Scrubby, starts growing among the majestic trees.

Scrubby feels inadequate among the fancier trees. While the other trees discuss who might be chosen for prestigious sites (Rockefeller Center, the White House, etc.), he is content to be friends with the birds, insects, and farm animals. With extra care and attention, will Scrubby become special in his own way?

This is one of those stories that sneaks up on you and steals your heart. When I first started reading about the various tree characters, I thought this would be a cute yet forgettable book. Once Scrubby enters the picture, the story begins to sparkle. I quickly found myself rooting for this sweet underdog to be appreciated.

The author does a wonderful job of developing the tree characters. They are described well and love to brag about their attributes. The Christmas tree farmer loves their competitive spirit as it inspires each tree to look their best. This adds depth to the story as it shows the positive aspects of competition. I also like the way Scrubby is described as the polar opposite of the other trees. Instead of boasting about himself, he is nice to everyone and focused on enjoying life.

The author writes in an easy-to-understand style, without being too simplistic. The story contains a valuable lesson about kindness and accepting others for who they are. Also, general facts about various trees are mentioned. This provides a nice, easy way for children to learn a few tidbits about different types of trees.

The beautiful artwork adds pizazz to the story. Each tree character is depicted with a distinctive face on their trunk, and their facial expressions tie in well with the plot. Of course, I am partial to Scrubby who has the cutest face.

This book has easily earned a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It’s refreshing to see an indie book that is professionally edited and formatted, with no errors. Although the beginning passages are somewhat bland, I became enchanted once the pine seed was transported to the Christmas tree farm. The book would be a perfect choice for a read-aloud to younger children ages 3-8; intermediate readers can read the story on their own. Fans of nature-themed stories would find this one particularly fun to read.

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The Little Scrub Christmas Tree
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Post by Elijah2018 »

The author do not emphasize more on importance of Christmas trees and their categories on how it impact on children yuletide seasons.
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Post by gali »

A children’s book about a Christmas tree farm which protagonists are trees sounds sweet. Easy-to-understand style, valuable lessons, and good illustrations make a good read. That it was well-edited is another bonus. Not for me, but I am glad you enjoyed it. Great review as always!
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Post by kandscreeley »

Aww! I can see myself rooting for Scrubby already. I bet he grows up to be a big, strong, majestic tree himself. I hope he learns from the other trees. Thanks for the review. Another fun children's book.
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Post by Manang Muyang »

This one's a great read for this season of giving and sharing.

Given my curious nature, I wonder how the Christmas Tree 🌲 tradition started. Maybe Joyce Kilmer would know.
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Post by Marklimbo17 »

Haha I also wonder how the Christmas tree 🎄 tradition started till now
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Post by Cecilia_L »

This really does sound like a delightful children's book. It's also nice to hear it was edited so well. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Post by Alicia09 »

I think what makes this book so successful is that it tackles the idea of acceptance without using human characters. This book also includes some information on trees, which can be very valuable in classrooms (since science has been cut from so many public schools). I would love to get a copy of this book to read to my second graders.
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Post by Jessacardinal »

What a fun and creative way to tell an educational story! I definitely look forward to reading this book.
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Post by C-Extra22 »

Trees competing with each other? sounds intriguing. I want to read this book.
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Post by bookowlie »

Thanks everyone for taking the time to leave a comment! I think the author did a great job of using different trees' characteristics to emphasize a message of acceptable and kindness.
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Post by kdstrack »

The opening comments about how the author has described the trees caught my attention. Children will learn that trees can be different too! The story line just adds more to this sweet story. Thanks for a wonderful review. I am in tears without even having read the book yet!
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Post by MsTri »

Scrubby sounds like he could be Charlie Brown's tree before CB found him. What a lovely idea for a story. Thanks for the introduction!
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

This sounds like an incredibly cute story. Scrubby sounds adorable! I need to go save it to my Amazon list for Christmas ideas for 2019!
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

Seemingly an interesting book. Nice review as well. Thank you 👍👍
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