Bianca with Richard Wagner on Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

This episode is presented in partnership with Richard Wagner, and we embark on a delightful journey behind the scenes of a heartwarming picture book, Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree. Richard, the creative mind who brought this enchanting story to life, unravels the process of crafting this magical narrative, exploring the themes of perseverance and discovering beauty in the most unexpected places.

Richard Wagner grew up in Southern California. When he was fourteen years old, a business friend of his father’s had a small Christmas tree delivered as a thank-you. Their family already had a large tree decorated in the house. Not being able to find anyone who needed a tree, that small Christmas tree stood outside by itself for the remainder of the Christmas holiday. Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree is a tribute to that little tree and what might have been, but more importantly, to all the beauty, goodness, and hope that Christmas brings to us all. Mr. Wagner continues to reside in Southern California with his wife and two children.

Transcription:

⁠You can read the transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠ (coming soon)⁠.

Order a Copy:

Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon.

Resources:

For more information, visit https://needlesthechristmastree.com.

Discussion Topics:

Richard Wagner talks about:

• Ever wondered about the daily practices that fuel creativity? Richard Wagner shares part of his daily routine, and you won't believe the key to success – daily heart-to-hearts with the spouse! Get the scoop on this surprising secret.

• Get ready for a journey through the pages of a life-long love affair with books! From childhood favorites to adult literary adventures, discover how reading shaped Richard's world.

• Curious about the nitty-gritty of writing a picture book? Richard spills the beans on parts of the process – including collaborating with an illustrator.

• Uncover the enchanting origins of Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree! Richard shares the spark that ignited this festive tale.

• Take a deep dive into the evolution of the story. Richard unravels the threads of perseverance and unexpected beauty woven into the narrative, offering a behind-the-scenes look into the book's profound themes.

• What life lessons does Richard hope young readers will carry from Needles? Find out as he reflects on the inspiration behind the story and the impact it could have on impressionable minds.

• Stick around as Richard drops a hint about future literary adventures. Could there be more books in the pipeline?

Music Credits:

• Paired with the book synopsis is Family Tree by Jahzzar, licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike License.
• The transition sound is Christmas Ident - FMA Podcast Suggestion by Serge Quadrado, licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.