Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves

It’s autumn, and the little red bird is knocked from its nest by a strong autumn wind. The little bird has a sore wing and realizes it can’t fly away for winter with that injured wing. The bird hops to a birch tree and asks for a place to stay safe until spring, but the birch says it has troubles of its own trying to stand against winter winds and can’t take care of anyone else. The red bird makes its way to a strong oak, but the oak turns the bird away for fear it will eat all its acorns. A maple tree, busy making sap, turns the bird away as well. But a fir tree, a blue spruce, and a juniper work together to make a warm, safe place for the red bird. Due to their kindness, the Frost Queen declares these trees can keep their leaves year-round for helping the bird, and red birds stay through the winter in thanks.

Author Annemarie Guertin has written a charming text with an old-fashioned folktale feel to it that explains some things in nature. Helen Perez Garcia’s bright, stylized illustrations are the perfect complement to the sweet story.