Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story by April Genevieve Tucholke

Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story Reviews

• 
  Kathryn

  This is decently written and the illustrations are well-done, but I really didn’t like this book and I think it could be potentially quite upsetting to some children, especially sensitive ones, especially at Christmas. Here we have yet another picture book about a cute owl who lives in the forest in the tree that is cut down and taken to the city to be the centerpiece Christmas tree. (But author book does not make any mention anywhere that it’s based on (or even inspired by) a true story, and I think it really ought to have done so.). The set-up of this story is unique from the others in that these owls of the forest love legends and hero tales and Merry wants to be a Hero Owl even though Merry is just a little small saw-whet owl. The trees are very much alive in that they have names and communicate with the owls, so it’s particularly upsetting when Merry’s tree (Hark) is cut down and “becomes silent.” The illustrations are frightening, too. Moreover, the city is portrayed as such a horrible, dreary place. I’m all for celebrating and protecting nature but I really do get upset when books are so negative about cities (and I say this as a country girl!) because, let’s be honest, a lot of the children reading this book will live in a city. How awful for them to be told that they are living in a place “with giant structures that are as tall as trees, but not nearly as friendly” and that the actual trees in the city “are small and sad, and they won’t speak.” I understand that the city would be scary to a little owl from the forest, but to make such statements as those just goes to another level of judgement and I feel so sorry for children who may come away feeling that the few green and growing things in their city are depressed to be there! Merry does see her tree decorated for Christmas and figures that it is the human’s way of trying to bring the beauty of the forest into their city… And we do have a kind human who helps Merry recover and brought back to the wild forest. So, I’m not sure that there is judgement on the humans, exactly, but rather this sense that they miss the wild of the forest so bring the tree to remind them of it, that Merry misses the forest, too. Anyway, I realize I’m in the minority with not loving this, and many may read this simply as an adventure story and enjoy it as such. It’s just a personal concern of mine when a book so blatantly makes the city to be such a depressing and scary place yet so many children reading the book call a city home. Other owls-in-trees-brought-to-city books exist, and I recommend
  The Christmas Owl: Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller instead.
• 
  Nursebookie

  TITLE: Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story
  AUTHOR: April Genevieve Tucholke
  ILLUSTRATED: Rebecca Santo
  PUB DATE: 10.3.2023 Now Available
  
  A heartwarming and whimsical story about the connection between humans and nature, and the magic of Christmas.
  
  Merry has always wanted to go on a grand adventure, like the great Hero Owls from her favorite stories. But she is just a little owl. Little owls don't have adventures. Then one day, Merry falls asleep in her favorite tree—and wakes up in a big, noisy city! Can a little owl on a grand adventure find her way home?
  
  Perfect for city kids and nature lovers alike, Merry and Hark is a cozy read at Christmas and all year round.
  
  THOUGHTS: I am a huge fan of April Genevieve Tucholke’s writing ever since Beatrice Likes The Dark. And in this Christmas story, I am in awe. We see the world through Merry’s point of view from her home in the nature, and then overnight to the big city of New York! The illustrations are gorgeous and really captures the beautiful serene nature to the bright lights of the big city! Wowsers I can see this being a favorite to read aloud.
• 
  Milton Public Library

  Merry the owl lives in Hark the tree. One day the tree is cut down to be used as a Christmas tree in the big city. The owl and the tree are transported to a new place, making Merry unable to survive. Luckily, a caring human intervenes and returns Merry to the forest where she belongs.
  
  This is a beautifully written and illustrated holiday/winter solstice book. If you love trees and nature and animals this one will captivate you. Get ready to feel feelings and enter a magical winter story about kindness, belonging, and the importance of nature.
  
  Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
  
  Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
• 
  Dave

  Merry and Hark is the story of a young owl whisked away to the big city when the tree she is in is knocked down to be taken to the city to become that year’s Christmas tree. The story is told with vivid, poetic language and the beautiful illustrations match the tone nicely. I appreciated the rich language and descriptions but found it a little too wordy for my preschooler. My early elementary daughter, though, enjoyed it.
  
  The story itself I found to be lacking. It isn’t really about the “magic of Christmas” in any way. The tree could have an entirely different role and the essence of the story wouldn’t change much. The message that does come through is the connection between nature and the animal world, and how human civilization interacts with it. It can prompt some good discussion.
  
  The story also gets a little long-winded and repetitious. It has some inconsistencies at points that don’t make sense. For example, Merry doesn’t know what cars are but can identify that Hark has become a Christmas tree.
  
  Overall, my daughter and I enjoyed reading this together and I think it opens up good discussion points. The Christmas connection, though, feels a little shoehorned in and the inclusion of “A Christmas Story” in the title seems like a marketing gimmick.
• 
  Erin

  Of the (at least 3) picture books telling of this owl, it isn't my favorite. But my owl loving daughter enjoyed it.
• 
  Ben Jakuben

  This is the most delightful and heartwarming holiday story I’ve ever read. Setting aside any bias from being related to the illustrator, I found the artwork to be absolutely captivating. This gorgeous book is a centerpiece for our holiday decorations and our children absolutely adore it.
• 
  Olivia

  See my full review here:
  https://www.yabookscentral.com/merry-...
  
  MERRY AND HARK is an intriguing picture book about adventure, nature, and the holidays. Merry the owl lives in the woods where she dreams of going on a great adventure, just like the stories the older owl tells them about other owls who have done great things. She loves the forest where she lives and particularly her special tree, Hark, which whispers to her. That is, until one day, when people arrive to cut down Hark and take it to the city with Merry still tucked inside. Merry is surprised by the city and the way the buildings and trees are, but also has trouble finding food. Luckily, a person comes and rescues her from the Christmas tree being decorated now, helping to give her food and drink as well as return her to the forest. Merry has now gone on a grand adventure and becomes one of the owls in the stories being told.
  
  This is quite the story with danger, unexpected turns, and a happy ending. Merry is a delightful character that will resonate with young readers who wish to see themselves in the amazing stories they hear and want to do big things. Her journey was not planned but presents itself as quite the adventure - scary at times but with plenty of bravery and some help, Merry makes it through.
  
  While the setting is around Christmas as Hark was cut down and taken to the city to be their Christmas tree, the book did not otherwise feel like a holiday read. There is a big lesson in terms of the ways that people use nature and the care they should take in doing so. For instance, it does feel quite sad when Hark is cut down and can no longer speak to Merry, and the people did not check to see whether the wildlife had left the tree before removing it from the woods, inadvertently taking Merry along. She then has trouble finding food in the city, where everything is different. She cannot see the stars to guide her nor find the food she usually would. The story presents the city as so different from the forest, but Merry also shows empathy, understanding that the people in the city want a bit of nature to enjoy even while it takes Hark from her.
  
  As the adventure was not chosen for herself, it did have some sadder tones to the story. While Merry got to have an adventure, it did not feel as empowering as it otherwise could have, such as the stories of the hero owls mentioned at the beginning. That being said, there are some great lessons for young readers in terms of taking care of and respecting nature and those who reside in it, teaching empathy for the woods and the living things there. In the context of the holidays, this becomes apparent with the ways that trees are used to celebrate Christmas, which may appeal to some audiences more than others.
  
  The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and really capture the story and Merry well. They are detailed and full page, pulling the reader into the story and Merry's world. While billed as a Christmas story, this is a story that could be enjoyed year-round with tones of danger, learning, adventure, conservation, and empathy. Because of these themes and the length, this would work best for elementary school aged readers.
  
  Overall, MERRY AND HARK is an imaginative and lovely picture book that presents thought-provoking themes to young readers. Would recommend around the holidays or any time of the year.
  
  Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Jillian

  I didn't rate the other picture books I read before Merry and Hark...because they didn't make me feel like Merry and Hark.
  
  To my surprise, I just realized this picture book is written by an author I've read previously. The artwork was beautiful, with a pastel Christmas color scheme I always love. I love the little owl, Merry, is a sweet and precious little thing. I can relate to being small and wanting to go on a big adventure. And the big adventure itself is as important as the hero owls whose stories she's heard. She survived a big city, watched her tree, Hark, be turned into a Christmas tree, and made a human friend who helped me after she survived on her own in the city for a few days.
  
  It could be because I'm close to my time of the month, but Merry and Hark made me emotional.
• 
  Jared White

  Well, this book mostly just made me sad. I've not often been around any of the really large real/natural Christmas trees so I'd never really thought about where they come from. I was in an AmeriCorps program where we sometimes cut down invasive trees or trees that were a potential threat were a wildfire to happen (that were dying or such) and I felt really bad any time I had to cut down any tree that I knew was older than me, because they had lived through and survived so much (even though in that case it was best for the habitat if it was cut down). Anyway, I think this is how I am forever going to feel about giant natural Christmas trees now, especially if they were cut down from a woodland rather than a tree farm. They were surviving and, because it's often only the prettiest trees that are chosen, likely thriving... and I'd rather they stay in their forest than be cut down so they can be looked at for a month or two.
• 
  Calista

  This story has been told before in "Christmas Owl". There are two people inspired by this story. This seems to be the more dramatic rendering of the story to me.
  
  A content saw-whet owl is living a peaceful life in the forest one day when his tree is cut down and he goes on an Adventure to NYC where his home become the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
  
  The artwork is lovely here and this person clearly loves owls. This is an ode to owls. It's about Christmasy, but very different and much of the book is not about Christmas. It's a welcome different Christmas story.
• 
  Andrew

  Tucholke & Santo's rendering of Merry, the saw-whet owl that charmed the nation, is a touching and adventurous tale of bravery. Gorgeous illustrations accompany this little owl with big dreams and her unexpected journey when her tree was taken to New York City.
• 
  Caroline

  An owl named Merry gets the adventure they are craving when the tree they live in is cut down and brought to the city to be a Christmas tree. This is a fun story and the art is pretty and a little bit spooky with very muted colors.
• 
  Sandy

  There are several picture books about the owl that was living in the tree at Rockefeller Center. This is not my favorite of the bunch. My daughter and I liked the illustrations, but the fantastical elements were a bit much for a story based in truth.
• 
  Trisha

  A little Saw-whet owl admires his much bigger owl cousins. He wants to have an adventure just like they have. It happens. Not quite like he expected. He gets in some trouble. An unexpected friend helps him and returns him back home safely from his adventure.
• 
  Amelia

  Honestly the beginning was a bit boring for the kiddos. I think it’s because of so many big words for them. Not ideal for toddlers or kindergarten but more like 4th grade and up. Cute story but nothing memorable
• 
  Olivia

  An absolutely beautiful story about a small brave owl, a large old tree, a kind rescuer, and Christmas time. Instant classic.
• 
  Jennie

  Beautiful illustrations and a sweet, touching story.
  
  Highly recommended
• 
  Jane

  Beautiful illustrations! A lovely story with incredible art by Rebecca Santo, my nieces adore it and it’s sure to be a classic in our family!
• 
  Amy

  I thought this was a very sweet and charming story that also highlights the delicate balance between humans and nature. Beautiful illustrations.
• 
  Thomas Bell

  Wasn't quite sure where this was going. Beautiful artwork, and such a cute little owl, but I had a hard time getting the point of this book.
• 
  Emvee ⚔ Woman Lover

  Made me cry. I love it.
• 
  Juli Anna

  Heartfelt and whimsical.
• 
  Jimmy

  Based on the 2020 story of a tiny owl found in the tree selected to be at the Rockefeller Center. Teach your children well with books like this.
• 
  Jackie Atkins

  Enjoyed the Christmas story of an owl and spruce tree
• 
  Stacie

  Absolutely charming in words and pictures. Grand adventure for a small northern saw-whet owl 🦉 at Christmas time. 🎄
• 
  Jessica

  Depressing for a children’s Christmas book.
• 
  Rachel Matsuoka

  A sweet story of a saw-whet owl who unwittingly takes a journey to the big city at Christmastime, and a festive ode to the natural world. And the illustrations are something to marvel at!
• 
  Ashley

  Merry the owl lives in Hark the tree. One day the tree is cut down to be used as a Christmas tree in the big city. The owl and the tree are transported to a new place, making Merry unable to survive. Luckily, a caring human intervenes and returns Merry to the forest where she belongs.
  
  This is a beautifully written and illustrated holiday/winter solstice book. If you love trees and nature and animals this one will captivate you. Get ready to feel feelings and enter a magical winter story about kindness, belonging, and the importance of nature.