Mama's Wreaths

The kitchen at Joanie's mountain home is filled with fresh fir and hemlock branches, evergreens that Mama will use as she makes wreaths to sell before Christmas. Joanie is eager to learn to make wreaths like Mama's. As Mama patiently guides her, Joanie learns not only about wreath making, but also about trust and joy - lessons entwined with fragrant evergreen. Joanie's story unfolds through a garland of gentle free-verse poems that readers of all ages will savor.Through slices of life, Julia Taylor Ebel reminds readers of the importance of passing on traditions and cultural stories. Like Ebel's previous books, Mama's Wreaths was inspired by the experiences of real people - in this case, the wreath-making experiences of young writer M. Joann Moretz and her family. Enhanced by Joann's keen eye for detail and Ebel's delicate pencil sketches, Mama's Wreaths is a heartwarming story to be read and shared at Christmas and throughout the year.