Capturing the magic of a classic children's story about a sugarplum fairy, Andrea Antico sets the stage for an imaginative winter narrative about a bare deciduous tree living in the middle of an evergreen forest.

Neglected and even abused by children who come to play and picnic in the forest, the tree rues the loss of its vibrant summer self. The legendary fairy discovers it drooping amidst the forest greenery and voila! with her wand, transforms it into a sugarplum tree.

Charming illustrations make vivid the elements of Antico's story; initial disdain for ugliness (the poor tree), recognition of hidden value (discovering beauty in the tree once it was decorated), and the heartwarming benefits of kindness (the ultimate fun around the tree, then its spillover goodness to family and friends).

Young readers see without being told in so many words the rewards of inclusion. It's a skillfully executed lesson in humanity, one created by an elementary school teacher and librarian who knows kids-and whose grasp of young children's capacities is obvious.She has added the bonus of concrete suggestions for teachers (and presumably parents) to enhance the reading of telling of the book. And Virginia Small's delightful, sometimes surprising illustrations add fillip to her work.