What Makes it a Favorite?

This clever book, written and illustrated by Chris Raschka was inspired by a poem by E.E. Cummings. The poem is at the beginning of the story, and it lights the way for the rest of the book.

Combined, the poem and the story will give your preschooler a special appreciation for your "little tree" this Christmastime.

Read and Learn

Poetry gives children a keen appreciation for sounds and rhythm. By sharing this story and poem with your preschooler, you can help administer an early appreciation for the written word, and an admiration for your special "little tree" this time of year.

The text is filled with rhythm and repetition, which your preschooler will love. Most children at this age absolutely enjoy the repetition that books such as this offer to them. It's predictable, but not too predictable. There's just the right amount of surprise and understanding.

Preschoolers will also take delight in reading this book by or under the Christmas tree. Or, read this book before going out to find that special tree. Incorporate this book into a tradition, which will create memories for years to come!

Why You Should Check it Out

The illustrations are the amazing paintings by Raschka, and his child-like abstract work connects the feelings of wonder and delight.

In a world where we are all so busy, this book helps us to slow down and appreciate something as fine as a special "little tree." This "little tree" finally found its own special place in the world. Read this great book to relish in the "little wonders" of the season.

Hi! I'm Molly Christensen, the Preschool Books writer at PreschoolRock.com. I have five wonderful children, ranging in age from 1 to 12. We own hundreds and hundreds of books and we all read a lot! I love playing games and reading with preschoolers and I often teach preschool classes. If you have a good book you'd like to recommend or just want to share your ideas and suggestions, please contact me.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Audiobooks count as reading. Children who listen to audiobooks develop the same comprehension, vocabulary, and story-structure understanding as children read to by adults.

• Let children choose books. Even if they always choose the same book, following their interest builds the reading habit more reliably than adult selection.

• Wordless picture books (The Snowman, Tuesday, Flotsam) develop narrative comprehension, story structure understanding, and visual literacy — without any words at all.

• Book series give children the gift of returning characters and worlds — the anticipation of the next book builds sustained literary interest that one-off titles don't.

Frequently Asked Questions

My preschooler wants the same book read over and over. Should I allow this?

Absolutely — repeated reading of favorite books is both normal and highly beneficial. With each reading, children understand more: they catch details they missed, connect the story to new experiences, and increasingly delight in predicting what happens next. The request to re-read is a sign of deep engagement, not a cognitive limitation. Never replace a requested re-read with a book you've chosen — follow the child's reading lead. Boredom with a book you've read 30 times doesn't mean the child is bored.

How do I get my preschooler interested in books if they're not naturally drawn to them?

Start with books about the child's existing interests — if they love trucks, find every truck book in the library. Read with physical engagement: let them turn pages, point to objects, make sound effects. Short books work better than long ones for reluctant readers. Reading in highly comfortable, cozy circumstances (snuggled together, with a special reading snack) creates positive association with books. Never force prolonged reading against clear resistance — a 2-minute positive experience beats a 10-minute battle. Most children become enthusiastic book-lovers given sustained positive exposure over months.

Related reading: See also our nonfiction books guide and our vocabulary building guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• ❤️ Empathy & Emotional Intelligence — Experiencing a character's feelings, understanding their motivations, and seeing how they navigate challenges develops the theory of mind and empathy that underlie healthy relationships, moral reasoning, and social intelligence.
• 🔢 Story Structure Understanding — Following a story's arc — beginning, problem, resolution, ending — builds the narrative schema that makes complex texts comprehensible and supports children's own storytelling and writing development.
• 😊 Love of Reading — Every positive reading experience — a funny book, an exciting story, a perfectly timed cuddle — builds the reading identity and intrinsic motivation that sustains literacy development through the independent reading years.
• 🖼️ Visual Literacy — Reading pictures — interpreting what they show, what details they add, how they relate to the words — develops visual literacy: the ability to extract meaning from images that underlies comprehension of graphs, diagrams, and media.

Little Tree

By Chris Raschka

From The Book

"The little tree had found his own special place in the world, a special little place that was waiting for him all his life."