The Jackson Citizen Patriot reviews Christmas Tree Farm

Pumell puts out a story of Christmas
By Gail Slaughter
As appeared in the Jackson Citizen Patriot – Sunday, November 12, 2006
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

Just in time for Christmas, here comes the latest children's book by Ann Purmell of Jackson -- "Christmas Tree Farm" (Holiday House).

The book begins in November, as Christmas trees are cut down for Grandpa's Tree Hut, where they're sold from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.

But the family is busy all year long -- planting trees, pruning trees, measuring and tagging them. Readers experience the process through the eyes, ears and nose of a grandson.

He pulls on safety glasses, for example, when Grandpa cuts down trees with the chainsaw. As the wagon fills up, "My gloves are sticky with pinesap, and the smell tickles my nose," he says. Like Purmell's earlier success, "Apple Cider Making Days," her new book is about a family business. Purmell grew up working in the clothing store her family owned in Ann Arbor and wanted "to share that experience with children who have few opportunities to participate in family businesses anymore."

A page of interesting "Christmas Tree Lore," history and facts follows the story. For example, "Christmas trees mark the ice bridge from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace … safely guiding those who snowmobile, cross-country ski or walk across the frozen section of Lake Huron." The book's illustrations, by Jill Weber of New Hampshire, have a decorative quality, rather like a Christmas card or holiday wrapping paper.

The book is a 2006 selection of Junior Library Guild, which means it will be sent to all the schools and libraries in the country that are guild members.

The publisher, Holiday House, expects good sales, so the company gave it an embossed jacket -- something rarely done because of the cost, Purmell noted.

Locally, "Christmas Tree Farm" is available at Best Book, Nomad Bookhouse and the gift shop at Foote Hospital, as well as at the Jackson District Library. It can be ordered from other bookstores or online.

Purmell will read and sign books at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Jackson District Library Carnegie Branch, 244 W. Michigan Ave.; from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at Best Books in Jackson Crossing; and 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at JDL's Meijer Branch, 2699 Airport Road.