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Let Curiosity Guide You by Nancy Churnin

11/17/2020

5 Comments

 
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Picture
The 1848 engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert royal decorating a tree, a tradition started at Windsor Castle by Queen Victoria's grandmother, Queen Charlotte HULTON ARCHIVEGETTY IMAGES
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When you write a picture book biography, usually you start by studying a person’s life and looking for a theme that that captures the person’s essence. But not always. Sometimes, I start with an object or something that fascinates me – and search for the person that brought it to be.
 
That is the curious case of The Queen and the First Christmas Tree, Queen Charlotte’s Gift to England (illustrated by Luisa Uribe, published by Albert Whitman & Company).
 
I never set out to write about the wife of King George III, the British king during the American Revolution, who has become infinitely more famous after his featured role in Hamilton. Honestly, I didn’t even know King George was married, much less that he and his wife had 15 children together.  But I was curious about the origin of the Christmas tree. How and when did that become a tradition?
 
Research led me to the story of this kind queen who dragged an entire tree into Windsor Castle and decorated it with lit candles, fruits, nuts and colored papers to delight a party of 100 children on Christmas in 1800, creating what would be an annual tradition that continues to this day.
 
Why did she do this? Working backwards from that event, I learned how she had grown up in Germany as a princess who cared about plants and children rather than fancy balls and jewels. When she married King George, the fancy ladies of the court made fun of her accent and her humble clothes that were not as fancy as theirs. She let her mother-in-law take charge of entertaining royal guests.
 
Instead, Queen Charlotte cared for children at court, patronized a hospital for mothers giving birth, expanded Kew Gardens, encouraged the arts – including young Mozart who named a composition for her, took a stand against slavery by boycotting sugar that grown by slaves on plantations, and became the first royal, along with her husband, to make charitable giving part of royal duties.
 
The only reason Queen Charlotte was not more famous for the Christmas tree is that it was not until there was a picture of her granddaughter, Queen Victoria, carrying on her grandmother’s tradition of the tree in a British and later American magazine, that her idea became more widely known. After that and ever since, Christmas trees have been lighting up the world.
 
They say books don’t grow on trees. But this one actually did.
 
​

5 Comments
Pamela Harrison
11/18/2020 08:17:43 am

What a fascinating journey, Nancy! I love the way you chose the topic. It is backwards, but it works!

Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann
11/18/2020 10:01:41 am

I just choke at the idea of having 15 children, LOL, but she was a queen with lots of help, I guess. Great insight into the genesis of this story, Nancy. And what a lovely woman.

Reply
Lindsey McDivitt link
11/21/2020 09:52:25 am

How delightful and what a lovely lady Charlotte seemed to be. I'm always fascinated to learn the origins of persistent traditions. Thanks for sharing Nancy!

Reply
Cindy Leopold-Ritsko link
10/10/2021 06:32:49 am

Nancy, lovely story! Will look for a copy. Thanks for sharing your journey of research, compassion, and creation of your book!

Reply
Eva NMN Felder
10/17/2021 11:38:31 pm

Nancy, what a fascinating explanation of your research process. Curiosity will take you to unexpected, limitless places.
Thank you!

Reply



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