Random House Children’s Books and Habitat for Humanity celebrate the 80th Rockefeller Center® Christmas Tree with “The Carpenter’s Gift”

ATLANTA (Oct. 8, 2012) — This year, Random House Children’s Books and Habitat for Humanity will celebrate the 80th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree with a picture book inspired by Habitat for Humanity’s annual tradition of using wood milled from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to build a home for a family in need. “The Carpenter’s Gift” is an uplifting holiday story for the whole family. This year, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Set in Depression-era New York, “The Carpenter’s Gift” (Random House Books for Young Readers / 17.99 / Ages 5–8) introduces readers to eight-year-old Henry, who helps his out-of-work father sell Christmas trees in Manhattan. One day, they give a leftover tree to construction workers building Rockefeller Center. That tree is the most magnificent Henry has seen, and on it, he makes a Christmas wish for a warm house to replace his family’s drafty one-room shack. When Henry’s wish is granted, he plants a pinecone to commemorate the event. Years later, he donates the tree that has grown from that pinecone to be the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, with the promise that it will be milled and its lumber used to build a home for another family in need.

Highlighting the timeless themes of charity and good will, “The Carpenter’s Gift” shows that the best gifts are the ones that are unexpected, and may well inspire readers to do some giving of their own. Back matter includes a brief history and photo of the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, as well as information on Habitat for Humanity International’s mission to build simple, decent homes in which people can live safely, healthfully and affordably.

Visit www.habitat.org/thecarpentersgift for additional information about “The Carpenter’s Gift.”

About David Rubel
David Rubel is a nationally recognized author and speaker whose work focuses on making American history accessible to a broad audience. His children’s books The Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times and The Scholastic Atlas of the United States have become grade-school standards, selling more than half a million copies each in multiple editions.

About Jim LaMarche
Jim LaMarche has illustrated more than 20 children’s books, some of which he has also written. His work has been awarded the Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year, the Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Picture Books and the American Bookseller Association Pick-of-the-List. He lives in Central California with his wife and children.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

About Random House Children’s Books
Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (RandomHouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

THE CARPENTER’S GIFT: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree
by David Rubel; illustrated by Jim LaMarcheRandom House Books for Young Readers Ages 5–8Hardcover: 978-0-375-86922-8 17.99 19.99 Can. 48 pagesEbook ISBN: 978-0-375-98933-9 10.99 17.99 Can.

Random House Books for Young Readers is an imprint of the Random House Children’s Books division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG. Visit us on the Web at RandomHouse.com/kids.