The Carpenter's Gift

September 26, 2011
Ever since construction workers building New York’s Rockefeller Center put up a humble Christmas tree on site in 1931, the annual tradition has become a gift that keeps on giving. Author/historian Rubel’s story of a Depression-era family’s connection to that first tree—and the ripple effect of its bounties—puts the now magnificent symbol in perspective. LaMarche conveys emotional resonance with gauzy, soft-hued paintings of the inspirational proceedings. An afterword highlights Rockfeller Center owner Tishman Speyer’s recent partnership with Habitat for Humanity, which earmarks the tree to be milled for lumber post-Christmas for a family in need. Ages 5–8.

September 1, 2011

An elderly man named Henry recalls the Christmas season of 1931 in this relatively long story that connects the Depression era to Habitat for Humanity via the enormous Christmas trees at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

A boy of 9 or 10, Henry lives with his parents in a tiny, unheated shack in the country. Henry helps his father cut down evergreen trees to take to the city to sell, and there they befriend some men working on the construction of Rockefeller Center. Together they decorate a makeshift Christmas tree; Henry's father gives the last of the trees to the workers. On Christmas morning the workers respond by arriving at Henry's home with materials to build a new house. The boy receives a hammer from one of the men, and Henry grows up to be a skilled carpenter himself. In a Dickensian series of coincidences, a huge tree on Henry's land is chosen as a Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center, with wood milled from the tree to be given to a family for their new house. Henry meets the young girl whose family will receive the wood and passes his treasured hammer on to her. Luminous illustrations in a large format have a muted, shimmering quality, especially in the concluding view of the magical tree at Rockefeller Center.

A sentimental but touching story with beautifully realized illustrations. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-9)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

October 1, 2011

Gr 1-4-During the Great Depression in New York City, young Henry lives with his out-of-work parents in a drafty shack and sells Christmas trees with his father. Giving a tall tree to some friendly construction workers results in the workers helping to build a house for his family; years later, a pinecone Henry plants becomes a Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which is then milled for wood to build a home for another needy family. Detailed characterizations and a straightforward tone keep the tender tale from becoming saccharine. LaMarche's almost impressionistic colored-pencil illustrations put readers in the midst of the action. Appendixes tell the true story of the origin of the Rockefeller Center tree and describe the mission of Habitat for Humanity International.-Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
During the Depression, kindly construction workers build Henry's impoverished family a new home. Later, an enormous tree Henry planted becomes the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, and its lumber is used to build a house for a similarly needy family. Rubel's story of compassion hits all the right holiday notes while LaMarche's lush, warm illustrations drive home the central message of charity.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2011
During the Great Depression, down-on-their-luck Henry and his father bring spruces into Manhattan to sell as Christmas trees; through some good fortune and a little Christmas magic, kindly construction workers they meet there build the impoverished family a new house. Henry never forgets the wonder of that day or the kindness of those strangers. As an old man, he's given the opportunity to pay it forward: an enormous spruce tree that he planted all those decades before becomes the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, and its lumber islater used to build a similarly needy family a new home. Rubel's story of compassion hits all the right holiday notes; LaMarche's lush, warm illustrations of glowing Christmas trees and smiling, caring characters drive home the central message of charity. katrina hedeen

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)