Children's literature scholar and long-time friend of the Horn Book, Carolyn Shute recently let me know about a seasonal exhibit at the Concord (MA) Museum. If you live in the area or will be in or near eastern Massachusetts in the next few weeks, I recommend making the museum's Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature exhibit part of your plans; the Horn Book staff is planning a visit.

Here's Carolyn's email with the 4-1-1:

Dear Family, Friends, Christmas Tree Lovers,

The Concord Museum celebrates children's books with its twenty-second annual Family Trees exhibit. From now until January 1, 2018, visitors can see thirty-eight Christmas trees of varying sizes, the decorations for each inspired by a children's book.

The literary offerings are mostly picture books, including Hooray for Birds! by Lucy Cousins; Bread and Jam for Francis written by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban; Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin; The Day the Crayons Came Home written by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers; Firebird written by Misty Copeland and illustrated by Christopher Myers; and the Caldecott Medal–winner May I Bring a Friend? written by Beatrice Schenk de Regainers, illustrated by Beni Montessori.

In keeping with the museum's current exhibit, This Ever New Self: Thoreau and His Journal, two picture books about Thoreau are also featured: Henry and the Huckleberries: A Visit with Mr. Thoreau at Walden Pond written by Sally Sanford, illustrated by Ilse Plume, and Henry Builds a Cabin written and illustrated by D. B. Johnson. Johnson, the honorary chair of Family Trees, says "I'm glad for the opportunity I've had to introduce young minds to the ideas of Henry David Thoreau: to live simply, with principle, and in harmony with nature."

There are a number of events associated with the exhibit, including an afternoon with some of the authors and illustrators whose books are featured (Peter Reynolds, D. B. Johnson, Yael Werber, and Lesléa Newman, to name-drop a few). Visit the museum's website for more information.

All the proceeds from admissions to Family Trees support the Concord Museum's educational programs.