A splash of seaside magic with Christmas cheer to spare.
K.’s whimsical holiday tale lets the Maine coast work a little magic of its own. Hildi’s winter discovery begins with a Christmas tree that someone has left behind. Rather than pass it by, she and her brother carry it to the beach, where shells, driftwood, sand dollars, stones, and bits of lobster rope become unlikely ornaments. With Finn the dog along for the adventure, the tree takes on a story of its own, far beyond its ordinary beginnings.
K. gives the book the easy rhythm of a story told and retold over the holidays. Reality gradually makes room for fantasy, and the shift feels particularly fitting because the book was inspired by an actual Maine beach tree tradition. The author’s note and photograph of the real tree add an intriguing final connection between the imagined adventure and its origins. Olha Tkachenko lets the landscape do the storytelling, placing the small figures against broad expanses of shore, sea, and winter sky. The approach gives Hildi’s adventure the feeling of a treasured coastal legend.
A playful reminder that the best stories can grow from the most unexpected discoveries.
***
Goosefare Publishing
Pub date September 30, 2026
ISBN 979-8994006214
Print length 36 pages
Reading age 3-12 years
Price $22.99 Hardcover, $12.59 Paperback, $3.99 Kindle edition, $0.00 Kindle Unlimited
