Editorial Reviews
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite
Holidays in Trees: Christmastide by Cammy Marble is a cute children’s picture book. In Black Walnut Ridge Resort, Christmastide is on the way, and it’s going to last for 12 days. The Scamper family is getting ready to embrace the peace and love the season brings. As they wait, they decorate the house, make special, tasty goodies to eat, and play outside in the snow – not for long, though; it’s too cold. Autumn Scamper even makes gifts for those who need them most. But when Christmastide arrives, the fun really begins. Find out how as you join the Scamper family and all their neighbors for Christmastide.
Holidays in Trees: Christmastide by Cammy Marble is the fourth book in a series. It is a lovely story about the joy of Christmas. All kids will love this fun story, packed with excitement and it is action stations as the Scamper family gets ready for Christmastide. Kids can follow along with their preparations and even get some new ideas for their own Christmas celebrations. The illustrations are bright and colorful to catch the eye and help tell the story. A really fun part of the story is one that all parents and kids can join in with to make their own Christmas one to remember – the hunt for presents, a great tradition that kids are sure to love. This is the kind of story that will help kids appreciate everything that goes into making Christmas truly special, and it may just encourage them to put their own unique stamp on this time of year. It also teaches them to help those with less. Highly recommended for all young readers.
Reviewed by Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review
Holidays in Trees: Christmastide is the fourth book in the Holidays in Trees picture book series. It follows the creatures who reside in the Black Walnut Ridge Resort as they celebrate Christmastide—for twelve days. Community-wide and family celebrations come to light as the creatures acknowledge and rejoice over the birth of the Sun Child, and the seasonal snow that appears around this time.
The tale is narrated by Chester Scamper and his wife Autumn, who lend a chatty, fun tone to observations of how different creatures contribute their skills and findings to the holiday experience: Before Christmas, Jay and Flappy Feathers bring in a supply of fragrant
cedar boughs with pinecones, jolly holly, and pumpkin-orange bittersweet from The Ridge for anyone who wants to use it for decorating.
The result is a winning, appealing picture book celebration that will engage kids and read-aloud adults with an animal-centric sense of joy and community involvement that’s perfect for either the holiday season or year-around reading. From a house-wide treasure hunt for gifts and the myth of a Santa Claws to family gifting traditions, Holidays in Trees: Christmastide paves the way for adults to introduce and discuss family engagements and traditions with the very young, who will appreciate the bright animal characters and warm descriptions of cooperative celebrating.
Elementary-level libraries that choose this book for a different kind of Christmas message will welcome Cammy Marble’s attention to whimsy alongside underlying serious messages about what makes for a celebratory, special atmosphere both within and outside the home.