36 decorated trees are situated throughout the museum, with copies of the related books displayed alongside. This offers plenty of opportunity for an impromptu story time - kids are free to pick up the books, sit on the floor nearby and read the stories, or have them read out loud by mom or dad. Kids (parents, too!), will want to stop and inspect the special details of each and every tree; we have found that the scavenger hunt, available at the front desk, helps keep kids moving from tree to tree. And, since the trees are displayed in every nook and cranny of the building - in the galleries and halls, on the stairs, in the windowsills - visiting the trees doubles as a tour of the museum!

The exhibit starts in Brooke Hall, with the centerpiece tree, Barefoot Book’s edition of The Snow Queen, illustrated by Miss Clara, who traveled to the US to decorate the tree with handmade ornaments. They truly are little works of art and worth spending some time examining up close. Other trees we enjoyed: Coyote Places the Stars, by Harriet Peck Taylor; Yankee Doodle, by Richard Shackburg; Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott; Strega Nona’s Gift, by Tomie dePaola; If You Give a Pig a Pancake, by Laura Numeroff; and Alice Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. Tree decorators come from Concord, Carlisle and 12 other towns, and run the gamut from individuals and community groups to school classes and families.

Special exhibit-related events take place throughout December, including:

Weekend afternoons: Larger-than-life classic picture book characters visit the museum:

• Pig (If You Give a Pig a Pancake), 12/10 & 12/11
• Lulu (Ladybug Girl), 12/17 & 12/18
• Mama and Papa (Berenstain Bears), 12/31 & 1/1

Free with Family Trees admission.

December 10, 10am-12n: Morning with Santa. An annual event that includes photos with Santa, seasonal crafts, and tour of Family Trees. Reservations are required, and space is still available. Call to reserve (978) 369-9763. Fees: Members: $25 child, accompanying adults free; Non-Members: $25 child; $10 adults.

December 15, 5pm-8pm: Meet the authors and illustrators. Visit with three of the authors and illustrators who inspired the Family Trees:

• Melissa Stewart (Under the Snow);
• Brian Lies (Bats at the Ballgame); and
• Rose Lewis (Orange Peel’s Pocket).

Free with Family Trees admission.

Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature
Concord Museum, One Cambridge Turnpike, Concord
978-369-9763; www.concordmuseum.org
On exhibit through January 1, 2012

Museum hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 12n-5pm. Closed 12/24 & 12/25

Family Trees admission: Adults $15; Seniors $10; Children (4-18) $6. Includes all of the Museum galleries and the special 125th anniversary exhibition, Crowdsourcing a Collection.