Kringlewart and the Crookedest Christmas Tree

When the ancient tree elf Grunelda took the brew that would stunt her son's growth and allow him to care for the small Christmas trees that humans had started to grow, she may have taken more than she needed to just to stop the nagging of her husband, Galbreath. This was three hundred and eighty three years ago, while the boy was still within her belly. Now Kringlewart is a runt, even for a wee Christmas tree elf, and much smaller than his large cat-sized parents.

Most Christmas tree elves accept their fate of having to care for immature evergreen trees only to surrender them after seven years to be cut down for the human holiday of Christmas. Kringlewart hates Christmas and deliberately twists and deforms his trees so they will never been harvested for Christmas. He's saved 52 trees from this fate...but this year, for only the second time, he's failed!

Now, after centuries of living by his own rules, Kringlewart must travel to a London townhouse to be with his dying Esmeralda, the crookedest tree he has ever formed, as she stands beside a fireplace, covered with baubles, lights, and garlands. He listens as a famous author and his orphaned nephew, Harry, wait for Father Christmas to arrive. But when the Jolly Old Elf appears and reveals who he really is, everything in Kringlewart's life will change.