Fir

Fir by Zodiak W. Paredes and Jeff Berman

Tabatha is a nine-year-old girl who is lost in midtown Manhattan on Christmas Eve, after becoming separated from her parents while shopping at a crowded department store. While wandering the streets, she comes across Noble Fir, a small tree that nobody wants as a Christmas tree because of his diminutive size. Fir is no ordinary tree, though, because he is very much alive.

The lost little girl and lonely tree strike up a friendship and set off on a journey to find her parents. Along the way, they stop for pizza – a first for Fir. They also visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, whose huge size amazes Fir. After stopping to buy chestnuts from a stand near Radio City Music Hall, they are about to ask a police officer for help finding Tabby’s parents. But a man grabs Fir and takes off with the tree.

After the police officer expresses more interest in finding out why Tabby is all alone than chasing after the man who has stolen Fir, the little girl decides to race off after the thief herself. She follows him to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where a priest stops the crook and forces him to return Fir to Tabby.
The priest leads Tabby and Fir into the great cathedral, where they are able to warm up for a while. The priest then sets off to track down her parents, who he soon learns are waiting for their little girl outside Macy’s. Tabby, meanwhile, meets a woman who is celebrating the holiday all alone, and the little girl confides to the woman that she actually ran away from her parents after they refused to buy her the doll that she wanted at Macy’s.

What follows is a welcome reunion between Tabby and her parents, who take Fir home with them and select him to be their Christmas tree. In addition to her new friend, Tabby also winds up getting that doll she wanted for the holiday after all, learning that the reason her parents wouldn’t buy it for her was that they had already done so much earlier because they knew that’s what she wanted for Christmas.

The book should appeal to both girls and boys of all ages and their parents. Kids will love this upbeat holiday season-themed fantasy about the importance of family and friendship. As you’ll find, the book has an open, warm spirit and it may well become a Christmas classic. The book was published by co-writers Zodiak W. Paredes and Jeff Berman.

The writers have been best friends for more than 40 years. Prior to Fir, Paredes published two short children’s books: The Adventures of Lemony Stick and The Bunny Princess, as well as Life of Fantasy, a collection of paintings, photographs and digital art.