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by Paul Edmund Thomas (Author), Katie McCollow (Artist)
What did you wish for most when you were a child? The Pine Child, growing up surrounded by the trunks of many tall pines on a forested hillside, can only see a small patch of sky up above. It dearly wants to grow into a tall and mighty tree so that it can look out over the other treetops and see the whole sky and the sun rising and setting on the far horizons. This wish to grow tall and see the whole sky fills the Pine Child's spirit and keeps it yearning upwards through every season. Then, in December of its twelfth year of life, while the Pine Child is deep in its winter sleep, a family cuts it down to be their Christmas Tree. Awakening in the dark warmth beside the hearth fire in a cabin, the Pine Child is terrified and weeps when it realizes that its lifelong wish will never come true. But, in the light of morning, three happy children greet the Pine Child, and, as they joyfully decorate it for the coming holiday, the Pine Child finds itself becoming less afraid. During the Christmas days that follow, the Pine Child begins to love these children who show it so much affection, and it forgets its sorrow over the loss of its first wish. Then, with the help of a mysterious and magical Tomten who visits it during the night, the Pine Child forms a new wish: a wish of Christmas love that, if it comes true, will change the lives of the children forever.
