The Magical Beach Tree by Donna K.

A brightly glowing picture book about community and the magic of nature

Hildi is watching snow fall on her beloved beachfront property on the coast of Maine with her dog Finn. The scene is magical and beautiful all on its own, but soon, something will arrive that goes far beyond her understanding of the magic of nature.

A fir tree has washed up on the beach. Instead of simply marveling at the strange new arrival, Hildi, her brother, and her dog head outside to rescue it. Soon, they’re decorating it with found-objects on the beach—from clam shells to sand dollars to rope from lobster traps as garland. 

It doesn’t take long for the community to recognize the magic of the new arrival. They gather around and contribute their own found objects to decorate it, with one mystery friend even painting rocks like presents beneath the tree. While the community makes the tree famous, nature has its own ideas. A nor’easter blows across the seaside town and washes the tree away.

But sometimes, strange, magical things happen more than once. 

The tree comes right back to them. And starts to grow roots.

The Magical Beach Tree by Donna K. is a lovely addition to the genre of children’s books about the magic of Christmas. It’s a community-minded story as well as one that celebrates the concept of found, natural objects. The whole town seems to understand that this isn’t a tree that requires electric lights or plastic ornament balls to celebrate the holiday. 

The book’s twist into the mystical, where the tree returns despite all likelihood, and then roots begin to grow into the sand, provides the book’s most wonderful idea. If you care for your art, your natural objects, the world will reciprocate that care and magic with you. The book doesn’t spell out Christmas exactly, which separates it from the story of Santa Claus and plastic-wrapped gifts, and instead simply encourages creativity and natural magic. 

In addition to telling a rewarding holiday story about natural wonder, the book brings to life the author’s appreciation of quietly wonderful nature. The prose reflects this appreciation with softly swaying grasses on the beach, whispers of waves and wind. It may seem like a small addition to include these lovely, poetic sentences on ordinary nature, but it adds monumental value.

The Magical Beach Tree, based on a beloved true story, is a warmhearted, mystical story that celebrates the Christmas season without ever bringing attention to what your kids already know about the holiday. If you’re in the market for a kids book that illustrates its love of the magic of nature and community, you’ve met your match with The Magical Beach Tree.