“Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become whey they grew up.”
Introducing Our Featured Friend: The Tale of Three Trees
A Traditional Folktale Retold by Angela Elwell Hunt, Illustrations by Time Jonke
When three trees dreamed of what they wanted to become when the grew up, they couldn’t imagine how the outcome would exceed their wishes. The first tree wanted to be the most beautiful treasure chest. The second tree requested to become a strong fishing boat. The third tree desired to be the tallest tree on the mountain, pointing all who looked at her to God in heaven.
Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall.
One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
With a swoop of his shining axe, each woodcutter cut down a tree. The first tree was brought to a carpenter’s shop and made into a feedbox for animals. The second tree was taken to a shipyard and built into a simple fishing boat. The third tree was cut into strong beams and left in a lumberyard.
The three trees almost forgot all about their dreams UNTIL one night, the first tree felt golden starlight touch her while a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox . . . And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
The second tree was used to hauling smelly fish, UNTIL one night, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. A thrashing storm arose, but when the man said, “Peace”, the storm stopped. . . And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
The third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She felt awful when a man’s hands were nailed to her. . . But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’ love had changed everything.
It had made the first tree beautiful.
It had made the second tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree,
They would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
Their dreams were alive after all in ways that exceeded their imaginations!
Inviting You to Become FRIENDS with The Tale of Three Trees
Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share
Discuss the questions and select an activity to do with your children or class:
F– Do you think the three trees felt happy with what they became when they grew up?
R- Can you relate to the three trees when they were disappointed at first because they didn’t get what they wanted? What did they realize later on in the story?
I- Imagine what you want to be when you grow up. Fill in the sentence:
“I want to _____________ when I grow up.” Realize there is a special plan for your life and that the times when it seems your dreams aren’t coming true, something even better than you imagined may be coming together!
E- Explore manger crafts like the ones below: http://www.pinterest.com/brendalpotter11/christmas-nativity-crafts-other-classroom-activiti/
N- Navigate your way through Luke 2, Luke 8 and Luke 23 in the Bible to read the stories about the baby born in the manger, the King in the fishing boat, and the One whose hands were nailed to the tree.
D- Develop a hands on Christmas tree craft: Handprint Christmas Tree and more . . .
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
S- Share this story accompanied with some Christmas tree cookies carried in a treasure box so kids will treasure the story even more!
Story Time with Third Graders
Manger Craft (hung in front of a dish cloth)
Handprint Christmas Tree Craft
kidsbook friends 
This looks wonderful, Angela! I need to get a copy of this book!