On of my teachers texted me and said I should do that in the library. I loved the idea, but wasn't sure about the logistics of it. I had a few days to think about it and talk it over with my assistant and a few teachers and decided to do it. I borrowed a small tree from another teacher and set it up the in the library. My assistant and I pulled enough books from my stash of book fair purchases and freebies to give one student in each grade level a book for each of the school days in December - 90 books! We wrapped them and put them under the tree. I asked the teachers to each send me the names of 3 students in their class that either came from a book barren home or could use an extra gift this holiday season. I put the names in envelopes by grade level and every day on the morning announcements I would call one student from each grade to come to the "Gift of Reading tree to choose a book.
The students were so happy to get a book of their own to keep.
Teachers told me that every day students would cross their fingers, hoping their name was called. We wanted the students to unwrap their books in the library so we could see what they got, but a lot wanted to wait and open the book back in the classroom with their teacher.
This was a really fun way to celebrate reading during the holiday season.