in an army of trees
and from far away
you'd have to squint to see
which one is yours -
Is that my turret
or a tangled crown? -
a grove of generals
your refuge in the flora.
Whether solo or squished
make sure your tree is tall -"
Speaking directly to her young readers Carter Higgins invites them to consider what a treehouse might look like if they allow themselves to dream it. There is no limit to what they can imagine if they take the time and look up.
"Everything you need for a
treehouse
starts with time
and looking up
and imagining a home
of timber and rafters
in wrangled, gnarled bark."
From there, a lively group of ever-changing youngsters plan, gather materials, and create a series of original and diverse structures that will have readers inspired to dream their own dreams. You won't be surprised to learn that one of my favorites comes right in the center of the book. It shows a perfectly bent tree that houses not one but two libraries ... and a cozy nook nearby showing children, alone and together, captured by the magic of words in the books they are reading.
"You should build yourself a bookshelf
cause you might want to
sail sun-kissed seas
or dig a hole
through dirt and roots and rocks
to the other side."
The detailed graphite drawings provide perfectly imagined worlds for these small children. They are filled with rich details that will encourage a relaxed sharing and much discussion as each page is turned. The final image and message is all every child needs to keep dreaming big dreams. It is especially right that the author ends with the same words as she begins. Awesome!
Here are some thoughts from a fan:
https://youtu.be/gr-UpzqBQF0
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