Mert, The Anxious Evergreen by Claire Bowman

This is a children's story about Mert, an evergreen.  He grows in the forest from a seed and enjoys watching the farming and being with the other trees.  But there's a developer who is determined to acquire this farm and develop it, too.  How can Mert save it?

Net Galley and Smith Publicity gave me the opportunity read this ebook for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Mert thinks becoming a Christmas tree will help, even if he's not sure how.  It takes a few years for the lady picking out trees to offer for sale in town decides to take him.  Part of that is his nerves; the first year she might have been interested he got so nervous he started shedding needles, so she left him.

By the time he's matured enough, Grandpa falls off the roof and injures his hip.  Even though the grandson works hard, he can't keep up with the farm.  With a business woman trying to buy it and lying about conditions on the contract (which were never added), it looks like it will be too late for Mert.

This has the magic of Christmas in it.  God must grant one miracle a year, because there is one here in this story.  It was a bit corny, but it made me smile.  Happy endings always do.

Why not share this tale with your young ones?

Happy reading.