One autumn evening, Little Redbird settled down for one last sleep before flying south for winter. As he slept, a strong gust of wind shook him from his cozy nest . . .. . . Little Redbird hurts his wing and misses his chance to fly south for the winter. As he searches for a new home amongst the trees, he begins to realize that not all trees are fit for the winter cold. As more and more trees refuse him shelter, too preoccupied with their preparations for the frost, Little Redbird fears the worst. That is, until he comes across a friendly bunch of evergreens.In the spirit of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves is a timeless story of kindness and why the fir, spruce, and juniper trees are evergreen all winter long.

About the Author
Annemarie Riley Guertin is a newly minted author. Her debut picture book, How the Finch Got His Colors (Familius), flew onto shelves in 2018. She has a second book, Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves (Familius), coming out in 2019. Annemarie graduated from Wheelock College and Fitchburg State University, earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in education (summa cum laude). Annemarie is a literacy coach for the Salem Public School district in Salem, MA. She lives in Haverhill, MA, with her husband, Michael, and their two children.

Reviews

"Bold colors and the striking contrast of the red bird within a green tree are on full display, giving each page a true jolt of visual pop."

- Kirkus Reviews

"Unable to fly south for the winter, a lone redbird seeks shelter in the surrounding woods, but not every tree is a gracious host. In this folk tale, fairy tale, and just-so story all in one, deep pine greens, bright red feathers, and a medley of golden leaves make each tree identifiable. The fir, juniper, and blue spruce each volunteer to keep the redbird safe as autum turns to winter, earning the Frost Queen's eternal favor. "

-Foreword Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)


"A lovely seasonal tale to promote kindness and empathy. . . . A quiet addition where seasonal tales and fables are in high demand."

-School Library Journal

"Annemarie Riley Guertin's text is a lively retelling of this holiday legend, while Helena Perez Garcia's illustrations burst off the page with beautifully vibrant colors and intriguing textures, design and depth...This story, which never grows old, is not only a visual delight but a well-told and timely tale of kindness."
-BookPage

Book Information
ISBN 9781641701587
Author Annemarie Riley Guertin
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint Familius LLC
Publisher Familius LLC
Weight(grams) 500g
Dimensions(mm) 282mm * 236mm * 12mm