Gloria HoustonAnmeldelser

Just me over here crying my face off. A lovely Christmas story and a mama who will not let anything stop her from fulfilling her husband and family’s word to provide a Christmas tree to their church.

My Great Aunt Arizona, is a book about Arizona's life and her journey in helping people. This book could be used in a classroom to show how you can help people.

This book is recommended for primary students. This book depicts a girl as she goes from childhood to adulthood as she becomes a teacher in a small town and preaches of the places the kids will go. In my future classroom, this book could be used for talking about the lasting impacts a person can have on somebody.

7 copies

A picture book set in the Blue Ridge in North Carolina during WWI, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree is the story of a young girl named Ruthie, whose family's turn it is to provide the community Christmas tree for the village church. She goes into the mountains with her father in the spring to mark a balsam tree to be cut down just before Christmas, but when he is called to war over the summer, the family's Christmas and their ability to provide the church with the perfect tree are thrown into jeopardy. This is a nice tale, pleasantly and pleasingly predictable (I won't spoil the particulars, but all turns out well, largely through the efforts of Ruthie's hardworking and resourceful mother), and the illustrations and small details about life in rural Appalachian North Carolina in the early twentieth century make the story special.

fair - ML

Set in Appalachia during the First World War, a mother and daughter fulfill their family’s commitment to provide the tree for the Christmas program. It’s the perfect Christmas story of sacrifice and love. As always Barbara Cooney’s illustrations are delightful and enhance the story.

A girl and her mother persevere to do their part for their Appalachian community's Christmas celebration despite the father being away fighting in World War I.

The year of the perfect Christmas tree: an Appalachian story by Gloria Houston
Story of a family and how they are able to celebrate the holiday with things they have around home.
It is the time of the tree for the Christmas village. This year it's their familys turn to find the right tree.
Balsam tree is way up high on the mountains that they ride up the hills to find it.
Summer comes and that year her father leaves to fight the war. Her mother tends the garden for food and Ruthie prays for her father to come home for Christmas.
A letter from him states he will be home for Christmas. Others are practicing the Christmas play and she will be the angel as her father will give the village a tree.
Ruthie and her mom made their way up the hill during the night to get the tree.
Love hearing the songs they sing along the way. Mother uses her wedding dress to make big wide sleeves so Ruthie will be a true angel.
After the play the children are given a present but Ruthie is not like theirs.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

It is Christmas time in the year 1918, and Ruthie and her mother await the return of Ruthie's father, off fighting in World War I, in this poignant and heart-satisfying holiday tale set in a small Appalachian village. When the pastor comes calling to remind Ruthie's mother that it is their family's turn to supply the church Christmas tree - an annual village tradition - she and Ruthie set out, the night before Christmas Eve, to find the perfect balsam fir, and to make good on their obligation. Sacrificing her own wedding dress, as well as the silk stocking sent to her as a special present, Ruthie's mother makes her a wonderful Christmas surprise, but no gift is greater than the one they both receive, after the church Christmas pageant...

The third Appalachian-themed picture-book I have read from the wonderfully talented Gloria Houston, following upon her My Great-Aunt Arizona and Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story pairs a moving tale of family love and community tradition with lovely artwork from Caldecott medalist Barbara Cooney. I loved all of the little regional details here, and the many bits of Christmas song that Ruthie and her mother sing as they harvest the tree. I particularly appreciated that there was mention of I Wonder As I Wander, an Appalachian folk song that has always been one of my favorites. The illustrations were beautiful, and captured the magic of Ruthie's mountain home, and her nighttime journey. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Christmas stories and/or tales set in Appalachia.

The story is lovely but a bit sad. It’s also really long. Little Ruthie and her dad pick the perfect tree in the spring and then dad goes to war. Things are tight. Ruthie can not have new clothes, or a new doll. But the family is going to make sure the church is going to get it’s Christmas tree.
#Wintergames #teamreadnosereindeer +26

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I loved this book because it was not only touching, but was easy to relate to. The main character was the narrator's great aunt, who was described as being strong, independent, and wise. She was a teacher who taught generations of kids, encouraging them to travel and explore the world. The illustrations were graceful and appealing, providing the reader with a sense of nostalgia and warmth. The author's use of descriptive words added more interest to the book along with the illustrations which brought the book to life. This would be a great book to read to students because they would be able to discuss how the main character grew as a person, how the time period affected the events in the book, and make predictions on what will happen next. Students can even make deeper connections with this book because of how emotional it is.

Arizona is a school teacher who teaches her students to dream big and to use their imagination. This book could be used to teach letter writing or about different time periods in america.

A wonderfully illustrated story of the life of a school teacher who spent her days teaching in a one room school house in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Another great book for young readers to explore how schools worked in the past.

This book talks about Arizona, a beautiful girl who is fond of flowers, loves singing, and reading books. Arizona took a break from school when her mom died to take care on her home life. The author Gloria Houston explains that finally Arizona becomes a teacher herself because of her past experiences and is able to teach her students at the same house where she learned.

This story is about a family and their christmas story. Each year a different family donates the christmas tree to the church. This year, the chosen family struggles to get a tree as the father is away fighting in the war. Together the mother and daughter hike up a hill to pick out the perfect tree. On christmas day a miracle happens and the father comes home from war.

Biography of a woman who dreams of being a librarian and the creates a way to bring books to everyone in her small town. Pierce County Library. 1st through 3rd grade

This book represents the idea of a teacher that motivates students to go out and experience the world by saying that ...''someday they may go where she has never been''. I enjoyed this reading because it made realize how teacher language can be implemented in a book to bring enthusiasm in students.

My Great-Aunt Arizona, is a book about Arizona and her great-aunt. Arizona's great-aunt is a teacher who is always encouraging her students to dream and imagine all the beautiful places in the world. I think this book would be good for 3rd or 4th grade and you could tie it into making bigger life plans.

My Great-Aunt Arizona is about a young girl named Arizona who grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains and developed a love for reading, writing, and adventure at a young age. The story follows Arizona throughout her life teaching generations of students at the schoolhouse where she first learned to read and write. She continually dreams of visiting far-away places and encourages her students to do the same, even if the places they visit are only in their imagination. My Great-Aunt Arizona is a great way to make curriculum connections with geography or history. Above all, the book teaches children to dream big, and that reading can take you on adventures without having to leave your seat.

This fiction book is about a beautiful girl named Arizona who grew up loving to read and write and dream of adventure. Arizona learned how to read and write in a small school house where she ended up becoming a teacher. Throughout her life she dreamed about going to far away places and living an adventurous life. As she grew older she inspired her students and family to go on adventures of their own. This book has notable features such as colorful and vibrant pictures and repetition. I would use this book as an instructional application to impart purpose and encouragement to my students.

This book was a biography based on the authors great-aunt Arizona. It depicts her life accomplishments in her rural town, and then transitioning to the big city through beautifully illustrated pictures. The main topic throughout the book was education, and it can be perfect for any elementary level children. I would definitely use this in instruction when introducing how to write a letter or just to talk about how important education is.

My Great-Aunt Arizona is a beautifully written biography about the inspirational life of Arizona which is written by Gloria Houston. Arizona is a school teacher who teachers for many years and along her career path she encounters many children and teaches them to dream big above all else. This book is wonderful for all ages both young and old, especially teachers! The message behind the story is both true and pure and will instantly move you to tears.