--- title: The Christmas Tree that Changed the World description: Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews the new companion storybook to the Christmas Tree of Kindness app. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221123%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # The Christmas Tree that Changed the World Nov 23, 2022 8:30:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221123%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png) *Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews the new companion storybook to the Christmas Tree of Kindness app.* --- [*The Christmas Tree that Changed the World: A North Pole Tradition*](https://christmastreeofkindness.com/) is a new companion storybook for the Christmas Tree of Kindness app, designed for families and classrooms to enjoy throughout the season of Advent. In the book, a grumpy snowman tells a puppy and a spruce tree that they can't make an impact, but they resolve to perform kind acts for their friends and add an ornament to Spruce, the tree, for each kindness. Soon the tree is filled with ornaments and the snowman admits he is wrong.   ![The_Christmas_Tree_That_Changed_the_World](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The_Christmas_Tree_That_Changed_the_World.jpg?width=800&height=622&name=The_Christmas_Tree_That_Changed_the_World.jpg) While there is some religious imagery in the book (mention of Christmas, plus angels, bells, and a star on the tree) this story does not focus on the birth of Jesus but simply on the little ways we can help others by performing kind acts. The lesson that no one is too small to help someone else is a good one, at Christmas or anytime. The Christmas Tree of Kindness app for iOS invites families to track their kind acts by adding an ornament to the tree in the app each time they help others. The app also includes music and a printable craft sheet with templates to make ornaments for your own Christmas tree. If you don't wish to use the app with your children, this book can still spark the idea of creating a Tree of Kindness in your home. Use a small Christmas tree and keep some miniature (unbreakable) ornaments nearby for children to add after they have helped someone else.   > When our children were little, we began this special activity each Christmas Season with a construction paper tree and balls. Every year, someone would encourage us to share this idea with others. After sixteen years, we decided that was the year to move forward, and this app, craft and illustrated storybook are the results. It has truly been a team effort and we all hope this Christmas activity will be shared and enjoyed and that everyone will decorate their own "Christmas Tree that Changed the World." (Beth Dessen Duffy, President of Christmas Tree of Kindness, Inc.)         *The Christmas Tree that Changed the World* is available from [ChristmasTreeOfKindness.com](https://christmastreeofkindness.com/). The app is available for iOS for 99 cents. The book and app can be used independently of each other.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221123%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20221123%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.png)   --- Copyright 2022 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Christmas%20Tree%20that%20Changed%20the%20World) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-christmas-tree-that-changed-the-world%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ The Chapel Rosary Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/25/the-chapel-rosary) [ The Perfect Christmas Pageant Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/10/the-perfect-christmas-pageant) [ 3 Books to Read by the Light of the Christmas Tree Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/3-books-to-read-by-the-light-of-the-christmas-tree) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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