Denise Mealy | The Children’s Book Review | May 29, 2019
Everything You Need for a Treehouse
Written by Carter Higgins
Illustrated by Emily Hughes
Age Range: 3 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
ISBN: 978-1-452142555
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
What to expect: Imagination, Dreams, Wishes, Pretend, Friendship
A gorgeously illustrated, imaginative tale, EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A TREEHOUSE is a pure delight.
With poetic, spare prose that reaches in to the very heart of children and says, I see the world the way I wish it to be, author Carter Higgins and illustrator Emily Hughes have done something magical here in this book. From lonely treehouses in the country to close-in treehouses packed between timbers, all are special and full of adventure. What makes them different also unites them. All of the children are creating their worlds as they wish them to be. Build a ladder, build a bookshelf. Build a place for cozy sleeping bags and late-night whisperings. Higgins’ brave turns of phrase will ensnare little reader’s (and their parents!):
…maybe it’s one soldier,
in an army of trees
…a grove of generals
your refuge in the flora
With Higgin’s delicate words are the dreamy, impossible illustrations of Hughes. Each scene is a wonder of hidden details and sweeping, emotional images that make treehouses (and their tiny, child-size hearts) come alive. By the end we realize that treehouses are not a physical thing meant only for those who have access to trees and land and sweeping vista views. Treehouses are a state of mind, a place for friendship to grow, and a place to belong. In the last pages of the book, we see several of the same children in their apartment complex, creating a world all their own with what they have on hand. With a diverse cast of characters and a purely positive message about life and imagination, this is a fantastic book for classrooms or libraries, or snuggling up with on the couch.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A TREEHOUSE is a triumph, sure to become one of your child’s favorite books. Highly recommended.
Available Here:
About the Author
Carter Higgins has worked as both a motion graphics designer and a librarian. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
About the Illustrator
Emily Hughes is an internationally recognized author and illustrator who was born in Hawaii and now lives and works in the United Kingdom.
Everything You Need for a Treehouse, written by Carter Higgins and illustrated by Emily Hughes, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Everything You Need for a Treehouse by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Carter Higgins, Emily Hughes, Friendship, Imagination, and Picture Book.
