In the Tree House

by Andrew Larsen, Dusan Petricic

Overview

An evocative story about two brothers who are growing up (one faster than the other), an unusual summer night and a special tree house that proves childhood is not just a time but also a place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771380812
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Andrew Larsen is the author of several books inlcuding The Imaginary Garden and Bella and the Bunny. He is a stay-at-home father who finds time to write between laundry and lunch. He lives in Toronto, Canada.;Dušan Petričić is an award-winning children’s book designer and illustrator whose books include The Enormous Potato and Lickety-Split. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

... cheerily illustrated ... this picture book captures ... the thrill of brotherly camaraderie ...—The Wall Street Journal

The layout of this small, oblong picture book is attractive, and the story is pleasant.—School Library Journal

Heartfelt and subtle.—Booklist

Larsen's text is full of delights, simple sensory details that capture a mood. ... To these crisply written words, Petričić brings his own rich dimension of narrative and character.—Quill & Quire, Starred Review

The powerful story is made more so by the expressive illustrations of masterful Serbian-Canadian artist Duýan Petričić.—Quill & Quire

From the Publisher

A tale reminiscent, but falling short, of John Rocco's 2012 Caldecott honor book, Blackout, depicts a boy longing for time with his big brother. First-person, retrospective narration recounts how, when the family moves to a new house, the boys build a treehouse with their father. A happy summertime ensues, with the brothers ensconced in their treetop perch, playing cards and reading comics. When they try to stargaze, though, city lights obscure the starlight. A year later, the little brother forlornly explains that this summer his elder sibling would rather hang out with friends than spend time with him. "So now I'm king of the castle. I can do whatever I want up here," reads text accompanied by a picture showing him as anything but happy about this prospect. Then a blackout occurs, and stars are suddenly visible. Neighbors pour into the street, using candles and flashlights and sharing ice cream before it melts. Best of all, the big brother ascends the treehouse ladder to play cards and look at comics by flashlight again. Even when the lights return and neighbors go inside, the brothers keep playing in the treehouse. The strongest illustrations follow the lead of the darkened cover art, but the book never achieves the visual brilliance of Rocco's more distinguished work. A melancholy story of changing relationships rather than a celebration of the excitement of a blackout. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews