LITTLE TREE

In this exquisite riff on Cummings's classic poem, Raschka uses lyrical cadence and gentle repetition to trace the journey of a tree who dreams of Christmas splendor from country obscurity to city stardom ("The little elevator carried the little family and the little tree up, up, up to the little family's little home"). The patchwork watercolors, an artful arrangement of line and color and framed in geometric shapes that echo the triangular tree, resemble modernistic stained glass; subtle spot illustrations hint at Santa's role in fulfilling the tree's wish. All ages. (Sept.)