I'm the poster for today! Yay! I thought I'd write about one of the new holiday books I got this year, thanks to Random House (@RandomHouse),
The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel.
![](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzj98ky7VzHNSWSfPZ2uP6Hp_pCclgzA543jkIMplNuBdj_wEorw:thebplot.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/carpenters-gift-book1.jpg%3Fw%3D540) |
image via google image search |
You may recall that I was involved in a blog tour at the end of November (November 26th to be precise) promoting The Carpenter's Gift. I shared videos about the book, the tree and how it all ties to Habitat for Humanity. My part of the tour was a guest post by author David Rubel.
But I never wrote my thoughts.
I love everything about this book. I love the illustrations. I love the message of generosity and helping others. I love that I now know what happens to the tree in Rockefeller Center after the Christmas Season is over. I love that the tree goes to Habitat for Humanity. I think that's wonderful!
I shared this story with my students on the day the Rockefeller Center tree was lit this year (November 28th), and I had a couple kiddos tear up. I admit, I might have too. First, they were floored by the concept of Habitat for Humanity. "Mrs. Furman, poor people need a good place to live! The tree is helping them!"
To me, this is the more awesome version of
The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein). Don't get me wrong, I like
The Giving Tree. But I think the boy is selfish and the book kind of promotes that take take take attitude. In
The Carpenter's Gift, it's always about helping someone else. And I love that the most.
I was able to go to NYC on Saturday (which was apparently the day EVERYONE decided to go to NYC for Christmas---it was so crowded), but we were able to get close enough to see the tree and take some pictures (which I'd like to share). I thought about bringing my copy of
The Carpenter's Gift and holding it in front of the tree to take a picture, but it was just so crowded it wouldn't have been a good picture.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcwM5zYbS_rr4XMIh53W6RzlvDFIFw1genZJbV1Mo9qOzpG865BTxXAuDXgDSpaD7V2N218EaPA3GIVjZUpe845sLrDCLOEgKn3wI91yktqktWzQPrzZMUfoxqzprpMhhknBEQxg3llNV/s320/_DSC0196.JPG) |
This is as close as I could have gotten...look at all those people! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaJ_jdSmncLzZ8O7j7rm79QB-5lkAdbURm-Mor95Ng8UojP7XQ8gnUHbMDeptLgH1n46ErhoTnyYd8RStyvXiG_A1cAIMWEeiE58_lEjy9Dkf9xB9qBmscDZu1-bTxECZbh3NsgpXJmur/s320/_DSC0147.JPG) |
Thanks, Brandon for the great picture!
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPa4fapCy2bIogOu4nJBl9eBHHKAfJMBXDzUWdLIoIFYyF9Fx8EO_feK6XduTqIlWvc1OxfLwS7vgy5WjleRx8RBJJAy2hgfo72W6xN48y5eThbYj6PkglpVXodBClJRziAKhOQm271Vc/s320/photo(21).JPG) |
Instagram or it didn't happen |
SO great!
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