As you might know, I like finding new holiday books in various styles. I have found one “yes I liked the book that is a wintery story” and one, “I might have found my religious Christmas book.” We have the themes of family, adventure, journeys, love, the Northern Lights and how a Christmas tree has a religious element to it.
Chasing the Light by Amanda Davis and Faryn Hughes is, like many books of late for me, I enjoyed the story of Davis provided us but it was not my main like. It is a lyrical romp through a wooded area, and how things are around us, if we stop to see. We follow a child and mother as they chase something special. And Hughes’ images captured me and the story. The illustrations are both dreamy and solid. They give you an idea of what our characters experience while they support their journey through the pages, and when you are rewarded at the end with a spectacular display of the Northern Lights. There is also an author note that shares the inspiration of the story. 
One reason the second book didn’t totally work for me was the cover has the tree with legs. So it is a “person-like tree”.” It was a smidgen off putting. Yet, the story of The First Christmas Tree: A Legend from Long Ago by Helen Haidle and Raluca Burca made up for it. The little tree of the story is waiting for the coming of the King’s son (God and the Christ child, but they are ever mentioned that way). The tree is sad, as he will not have a special gift like the others of the forest (trees and animals alike). But like the Little Drummer Boy, the tree will give the most precious gift. 
The images keep the walking trees, but make up for that by having a very cute baby squirrel, a couple of cute mice, and a really pretty bird and her nest with her egg inside. When the tree is given the gift of being lit by the stars, things work out even more as it is lighthearted, sweet and even a bit funny. The addition of short descriptions of why each decoration is placed on the tree (lights, the color red, the gold gold, ect.) is a nice addition.
Both are available, but read via online readers
