Flora's Tree House

March 15, 2019
Flora is inspired to create her artistic drawings and paintings as she watches her younger brother, Will, engage in his adventurous, imaginative play.A loud and rambunctious muse, Will has never seen the artwork that decorates the walls of his sister's treehouse. One day, however, he observes her sketching, becomes curious, and climbs the ladder even though he is strictly an unwelcome visitor ("NO WILLS ALLOWED!" reads her sign). Flora's gallery is impressive, and despite her initial grumpiness, she explains that many of the pictures mirror his play, like the recent aliens he was fighting or the time he flew his rocket to Pluto. As the siblings, who are white, reminisce about each of Will's escapades represented in Flora's masterpieces, the two soon combine their imaginative talents and create a new adventure together. Colorful digital illustrations temper the mild sibling rivalry with the children's round, smiling faces. As Flora explains her artwork, realistic scenes fade to magnificent imaginary tableaux in which both children enact the artwork, underscoring how the creative use of crayons and markers can extend a young child's concepts and perceptions. A subtle and inventive alternative to today's technology-tethered indoor play. (Picture book. 4-8)

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May 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-Flora spends her time drawing her big brother, Will, whenever he plays and goes on imaginary adventures. One day, Will discovers her artwork in her tree house and is amazed by her talent and all the pictures she has drawn, imagining him fighting aliens, riding rockets, and facing off against dragons. He then sees some of her imaginary adventures, such as exploring undersea in a submarine, and that she has joined him on some of his, like fighting man-eating plants in Peru or escaping from mummies guarding a pharaoh's tomb. After bonding over the drawings, the brother and sister decide to play together, imagining the tree house becoming a ship and the two fighting pirates together. The book emphasizes the importance of imagination and play and shows how the two siblings, although a bit at odds at the beginning of the story, actually have a lot in common and more fun playing together. Flora's drawings, pictured in the illustrations, feel childlike and authentic, and the expansive depictions of their imaginary adventures, with several featured on two-page spreads, are engaging and exciting. The sibling dynamic between Flora and Will is believable and young readers with brothers and sisters will be able to relate-and learn from-Flora and Will's relationship. VERDICT Positively showcasing the importance of imagination and play, this picture book provides an authentic example of a brother and sister who bond over their imaginary adventures. Recommended.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

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