''Tree in the Trail'' is a 1942 children's book, written and illustrated by American author and artist

Holling C. Holling Holling Clancy Holling (born Holling Allison Clancy, August 2, 1900 – September 7, 1973) was an American writer and illustrator, best known for the book '' Paddle-to-the-Sea'', which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1942. ''Paddle to the Sea'' won ...

. The book tells the story of a lone cottonwood tree encountered as a sapling by a Kansa Indian boy in 1610, on what became the

Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri, with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, th ...

, and the events that passed by the tree: buffalo migrations, warring tribes, the coming of the Spaniards, French trappers, and trade caravans on the Trail. Eventually the tree dies and is made into an ox-yoke and travels down the Trail itself in 1834 to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

References

1942 children's books American children's books Children's historical novels Houghton Mifflin books Santa Fe Trail Children's books set in the United States Children's books set in the 1610s Children's books set in the 19th century {{child-book-stub