Vintage kids' book ~ The Most Beautiful Tree in the World

This book was one of my favorite Christmas stories as a child.  It is a Wonder Book and, sadly, gives no credit to either the author or illustrator.  All it says is that the story was originally published in Family Circle magazine in 1954 and was copyrighted as a Wonder Book in 1956.

The book tells the story of children living on a farm and the beautiful gigantic spruce tree on their property.  The tree is sold and carried away by helicopter to become the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  Andy and Ellen get to go to the city and see their tree in all its glory.  The story ends happily with a new little spruce tree being planted in place of the large one, and the promise that it too may one day be the most beautiful tree in the world.

Andy and Ellen's first sight of the helicopter passing over their farm

The story is fun and the illustrations absolutely fabulous.  If you can find a copy, this little book is well worth having in your Christmas book collection.

An attic find

 
As I've mentioned a few times, I've been doing some clearing out at my dad's home.  Not things that he sees and uses daily; just things in the storage areas, of which there are many.  While working in the attic back in June, I came upon this find:

It's an interesting-looking book, although the stories I've glanced at don't seem to be anything wonderful.  (In fact, they seem a little strange.)

The book's title is

 CHRISTMAS STORIES:

 A Parlor Companion,

FOR

CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR, AND ALL SEASONS.

How's that for  all-inclusive?  I couldn't find a copyright date (or even an author's name; it seems the stories may have been written by a number of different authors, though I can't be sure).

However, the book was a gift from "Aunt Lizzie", and is inscribed "Merry Christmas, December 25, 1892."  That, and the fact that it will be a nice addition to my Christmas decorating, made me decide to hang on to the book, at least for now.