Family Trees: Storytelling Celebrated at the Concord Museum By Carol Haines, The Concord Museum

This unique exhibition's focus on children's and family literature makes Family Trees. Each tree, whether it's a traditional evergreen, a feather tree, twig tree or some other arboreal specimen, serves as a canvas for the artistic creations of a dedicated team of volunteer decorators. Inspired by the storyline, the illustrations, the characters or setting of a particular book, the decorators let their imaginations take flight, much to the delight of visitors of all ages from all over New England.

Serving as inspiration for this year's whimsical and wonderful trees are books that are classics and sure-to-become classics, all carefully chosen to complement the Concord Museum's historical and decorative arts collection. See the list below for books used as a basis for this event.

Proceeds from Family Trees benefit the Concord Museum's educational mission serving an audience of preschoolers, school-age children, college students, families, adults and seniors in over 600 school and public programs yearly.

As part of the celebration of Family Trees a host of family programs, including visits from the authors and illustrators, delight and inspire.

In preparation for their visit to the museum, parents and teachers often read the stories represented by the trees. Below is a list of this year's stories, noting the authors and illustrators who will appear in person on December 2nd with *.

An Algonquian Year -- by Michael McCurdy -- illustrated by Michael McCurdy* The Bad Beginning -- by Lemony Snicket -- illustrated by Brett Helquist Behold - The Dragons! -- by Gail Gibbons -- illustrated by Gail Gibbons Ben & Me -- by Robert Lawson -- illustrated by Robert Lawson Book! Book! Book! -- by Deborah Bruss * -- illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke The Borrowers -- by Mary Norton -- illustrated by Beth Krush/Joe Krush The Boston Tea Party -- by Pamela Duncan Edwards -- illustrated by Henry Cole Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man -- by Robert McCloskey -- illustrated by Robert McCloskey The Cat in the Hat -- by Dr. Seuss -- illustrated by Dr. Seuss Charlie Needs a Cloak -- by Tomie de Paola -- illustrated by Tomie de Paola Clams All Year -- by Maryann Cocca-Leffler -- illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler Cookie Count -- by Robert Sabuda -- illustrated by Robert Sabuda Degas and the Little Dancer -- by Laurence Anholt -- illustrated by Laurence Anholt Eloise at Christmastime -- by Kay Thompson -- illustrated by Hilary Knight Fannie in the Kitchen -- by Deborah Hopkinson -- illustrated by Nancy Carpenter Hannah's Collections -- by Marthe Jocelyn -- illustrated by Marthe Jocelyn I Love You Like Crazy Cakes -- by Rose A. Lewis * -- illustrated by Jane Dyer * In the Heart -- by Ann Warren Turner * -- illustrated by Salley Mavor * Joseph Had a Little Overcoat -- by Simms Taback -- illustrated by Simms Taback The Little Fire Engine -- by Lois Lenski -- illustrated by Lois Lenski A Little Princess -- by Frances Hodgson Burnett -- illustrated by Tasha Tudor Mailbox Magic -- by Nancy Poydar * -- illustrated by Nancy Poydar Market Day -- by Lois Ehlert -- illustrated by Lois Ehlert Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree -- by Robert Barry * -- illustrated by Robert Barry Officer Buckle and Gloria -- by Peggy Rathmann -- illustrated by Peggy Rathmann The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere -- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- illustrated by Christopher H. Bing The Queen's Necklace -- by Jane Langton -- illustrated by Ilse Plume Round is a Mooncake -- by Roseanne Thong -- illustrated by Grace Lin The Snow Family -- by Daniel Kirk -- illustrated by Daniel Kirk Squarehead -- by Harriet Ziefert * -- illustrated by Todd McKie * The Star Tree -- by Gisela Colle -- illustrated by Gisela Colle Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening -- by Robert Frost -- illustrated by Susan Jeffers Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic -- by Steven Schnur -- illustrated by Leslie Evans * A Summertime Song -- by Irene Haas -- illustrated by Irene Haas Sun Bread -- by Elisa Kleven -- illustrated by Elisa Kleven Waiting for Wings -- by Lois Ehlert -- illustrated by Lois Ehlert Wildflower ABC -- by Diana Pomeroy -- illustrated by Diana Pomeroy Wildflower, Blooms & Blossoms -- by Diane Burns -- illustrated by Linda Garrow The Willow Pattern Story -- by Allan Drummond -- illustrated by Allan Drummond *= attending 12/2

Photos: Courtesy of the Concord Museum.
Backgrounds: We lost the attribution for these wonderful starry backgrounds! Please help us out and let us know if you have any information (email us).