The Amazing Live Christmas Tree

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

One day Grandma Marcie receives a message from her grandson: he and his
16 cousins want to spend Christmas with her. At first, Grandma Marcie is
thrilled and eagerly agrees to the request. Afterward, however, she is
at a loss as to how to make this Christmas the best ever for her beloved
grandchildren. She goes into a forest to pick pine cones for
decorations. Growing tired, she accidentally sits on a sleeping giant
after mistaking his arm for a log. The giant explains he was once just a
normal wood cutter who became a giant after eating some magic berries.
When Grandma Marcie tells him the cure for his condition, the giant is
so grateful he offers to help Grandma Marcie any way he can. She asks
him to build her a tall cabin around a towering pine tree. Then he
builds guest beds that hang in the tree like decorations. When Grandma
Marcie’s guests arrive, she leads them to the cabin, where they dance,
sleep in the tree, and even catch a glimpse of Santa when he delivers
his gifts. All the grandchildren agree that this is the best Christmas
ever.

Although the story starts off on a good idea, the plot quickly bogs
down in wordiness and excess detailing. There is no climax or surprises
for the reader. Deborah Martin’s strong artwork ends up carrying the
story, but over the long haul it is not worth the effort. Not
recommended.