In the Tree House by Andrew Larsen

by Andrew Larsen

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Canada, Construction

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Andrew Larsen is a father, homemaker and author. When he was a child, he would spend a part of every summer with his grandparents at their cottage on a hill, by a lake. Andrew now lives in a downtown Toronto neighborhood. He has published three picture books with Kids Can Press and one with Fitzhenry & Whiteside. He is married with two children.

Reviews

[Shai · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Tree House is an adorable story of two brothers who were growing apart. However, their relationship brought them back together when the power was gone out in their neighborhood one night.



The story is quite simple, but it remind us several lessons. Aside from being in touch with our love ones, the beauty of simple living away from gadgets and other form of digital entertainment was also tackled in this picture book.



Thanks to Kids Can Press for the reading copy.

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Tree House is the story of two brothers who have grown apart since they built their tree house the previous summer. They have different interests and don't spend as much time together. But then a street-wide blackout reminds the boys of their bond.

In the Tree House reminds me of Blackout. They have similar plots about what happens when the lights go out in a neighborhood, i.e. all other distractions are taken away. The former has more back story, while the latter has the fun graphic novel structure. In the classroom, I would love to use the books for compare/contrast, and then have the students write about what they do/would do during a blackout.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to pair this with Blackout

[Laura5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

pair this with Blackout

[Olivia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. A cute story about two brothers who build a tree house. They can't see the stars in their neighbourhood, so they look at the twinkling lights of their neighbours' houses. As the older brother gets even older, though, he stops playing in the tree house with his brother, until a blackout brings them back together for one great night. Really lovely. Not wild on the illustrations, but they're ok. Will use for my treehouse/fort storytime.

[Jillian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treehouses are such fun. At first kids will spend all their time there. But soon things change and kids get older. It’s hard to be the younger sibling when your older brother is growing up and away from the family. This is a great picture book that shows the progression of siblings growing up and apart and the struggle and sadness of that relationship. But when a blackout forces everyone outside, the old tree house is waiting for the brothers to reunite. Pair with Blackout.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect summer book. It is also a great book on friendship with siblings. Who doesn't love the idea of having their own treehouse?!

This is definitely one to read at the beginning of the school year to coincide with a Magic Treehouse unit and friendship unit.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story. A dad helps his two sons build a treehouse. The boys spend a summer enjoying the treehouse, but the next summer the younger boy plays alone - until there is a power outage. Wonderful illustrations.

[Ella McManis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about two brothers who built a treehouse together. They spend the summer together, but by next summer, the older brother is now "too old to hang out with his younger brother. The treehouse brings the brothers back together in the end.

[Inti Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet brothers, and stars :)

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melancholy story about a boy grappling with family changes. Sweet ending.

[Dolank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe because I have young sons, maybe because I want a yard with a treehouse, or maybe because I miss seeing the stars, for any which reason, I loved this sweet little book.

[Lone Damgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sød og vedkommende historie om at vokse fra hinanden og mærke ensomheden. Skønne illustrationer.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved that the younger boy realized how much more fun it is to share with someone you love, and that a neighborhood blackout gave him and his brother a night to remember fondly.

[Haylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addressed the nature of sibling relationships and connecting with our loved ones and community by getting outside.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so nostalgic and warm. I loved every second I was immersed in it. The ending was abrupt, but felt realistic and true to the plot nonetheless.

[Savannah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The simple but effective leaf design is satisfying :)

Architecture is drawn nice. I like the perspective.
Cross hatch to indicate night time is crunchy.

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book, mostly to myself because Christopher was picking out books to read. It's a story about a boy whose older brother no longer has time to play with him in their tree house. He reminisces about them building the tree house with their father. Then one night the power goes out in the neighborhood, and his brother has time for him again. It's sad but also wonderful.

http://www.momsradius.com/2017/08/juv...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Every month or so, I browse through NetGalley and Edelweiss and find several picture books to read. Often, I choose them because they have beautiful cover art or look like they might be a little quirky. I would say about half the time I’m disappointed and half the time I’m satisfied. Occasionally, though, one or two of them stick out as really exceptional books. They have a great message and deliver it well or something about the story moves me. Those are the moments that keep me reading picture books. I’m going to do something now that I rarely do, which is use the publisher’s synopsis, because I think it describes the story beautifully.

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.

Sometimes being a younger sibling can be hard when your older siblings are growing up so fast. There’s this point between being a kid and being a teen where we seem to shed our childlike skins. Anyone who’s had siblings has been on one end of this or the other. My older brothers were a good bit older than me, so I didn’t experience it quite as much. We also weren’t quite as close as might have been had I been a boy or they had been girls. I can only imagine what it would be like to have your best friend in the world since you were a baby–your brother–to tell you he doesn’t want to spend time with you anymore. I’ve actually seen this with my nephews. At some point, the older boys become more interested in playing with videogames than with toy train sets, and they feel like they’re younger brothers are holding them back. In essence, that’s what this book is about, and it’s beautifully told and beautifully illustrated. Dušan Petričić has a kind of vintage illustration style that I normally wouldn’t like, but I think it really fit the tone of this book.

I highly recommend In the Tree House. It really moved me and I think anyone would enjoy it.

Read more reviews at Owl Tell You About It

[Carolyn]

Andrew Larsen’s In the Tree House tells of a young boy who is feeling the changes that time brings. He and his family move into a new house and, instead of sharing with an older brother, he has his own room. He misses having his brother in his room and he has trouble falling asleep. He uses his wakefulness to plan treehouses. He’s excited when his brother starts drawing treehouses and he’s thrilled when his dad agrees to make his dream a reality. It is not long before Dad and sons are perched up high, gazing at the night sky.

“Why aren't there any stars?” I asked between gulps of lemonade.

“They’re up there,” Dad said. “We just can’t see them,”

He explained how the lights from the city make the sky too bright for us to see the stars shine.

They boys love spending their summer in the tree house. They play cards and read comics and watch their neighborhood.

The following year, circumstances have changed. The older brother has new friends and they keep him busy. The tree house that was once magical now seems empty until a chance power outage transforms the neighborhood. In the darkness, the older brother returns to the tree house and the boys’ special relationship is revealed once again – just as the utter darkness reveals a sparkling night sky.

In the Tree House is a shining tribute to the special relationship between siblings and the small, meaningful moments that make a world of difference.

Nominated for a (Ontario Library Association) 2014 Blue Spruce Forest of Reading Award

In the Tree House has also been nominated for a 2013 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Award.

Included on our list of Summer, Camping and Beach Theme Picture Books
http://goo.gl/jnOlTP

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy narrates the story of the greatest summer of his life, when he, his brother, and his father built a treehouse in the backyard of their new home. He and his brother spent all their time there during the summer, playing, learning, and just being together.

But the next summer, his big brother was a little "too big" for the treehouse, and the boy spends his time there alone until a power outage brings his brother back up in the tree.

There is something entirely nostalgic about this book that I just love. Most adults can look back on a time in their lives that seems extra-special now, a time of fun and innocence and freedom that has slipped away, and when that time involved siblings (siblings who later "outgrew" us), the memories are even more sweet. Any time that forces a halt in our regular routines can stand out in that way. Holidays. Snow days. Blackouts. Those brief moments in time when people come together in a way they usually don't.

That's how this book feels to me. Like older siblings who are home because school has been cancelled due to snow and there's no power, so they play board games with you all day long, games you haven't pulled out of the closet in years, and everything is happy and sweet. (Until the power comes back on.)

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In the Tree House" by Andrew Larsen is a book that I think children will be able to relate to. The story is about a little boy who shares a tree house with his brother until his brother gets older and makes his own friends and doesn't want to spend as much time with his younger sibling anymore.

Along with nice big illustrations, this story reinforces family values, and a good relationship with the parent. I like the way the author incorporated the father into the story, having him help build the tree house. The way the boy reconnects with his brother was unexpected and well handled. I think this book would be good for children from age 3 to age 10. It is a little bit longer than some other children's picture books and I appreciated that it took a while to read. The text is easy enough for a first reader but also complex enough that the child doesn't have to rely solely on pictures to understand story.

This book looked great even on the computer, so I would imagine that it will look wonderful in hardcover. This would make an excellent gift for a child who is the youngest in the family and has older siblings.

This review is based on the digital copy from the publisher.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful story about a boy and his tree house. The boy finally has a room of his own and a backyard. He starts planning a tree house. Dad, big brother, and the boy build the tree house. The boy and his brother play in it all the time; it is their place. Then brother gets older and doesn't want to hang out with the boy or play in the tree house. The boy is by himself until the night of a blackout when brother finds him in the tree house again. They resume playing just like old times.

I really like this story. It is a very realistic portrayal of what happens when siblings get older and have different interests. Sometimes the younger brothers and sisters get left behind or pushed aside. I like that the big brother went back to playing with the boy even if it wasn't all the time. I like the simple illustrations; the full page spreads are beautiful.

I received this free advanced copy from the publishers on NetGalley.com.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy is ecstatic to move to a new house where he builds a tree-house with his dad and older brother. That summer the two boys have a lot of fun in their special place high in the trees. The next summer is not the same. The brother doesn't spend any time in the tree house, he has too many new friends to be bothered hanging out with his little brother. The younger one is sad and bored in his lofty hideout when all of a sudden he sees the stars up above instead of all the lights in the houses. The power has gone out and the neighborhood treats it like a party. Big brother takes this opportunity to climb into the tree house where the two reconnect as siblings and friends.
A simple yet sweet story of brothers growing up and changing. Yet a reminder of how important family is and how wonderful to keep close. I love the cover. The interior illustrations are cute but a little too cartoon-like for the story.

[Vidya Tiru · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tree House – I really enjoyed this book – the illustrations, the dialogs all flowed together in this short story. The affection between siblings, the shared love of doing something which is multiplied when done together as a family, the simple pleasures of life – like gazing up at the night sky, the joys of a tree house – all of these are portrayed sweetly in this story. It shows a glimpse of how life is sometimes lonely with everyone in their own little world but we can make it so much better with something as simple as being outside and spending time with family, with our community, and nature.
The simple pen illustrations are amazing.
Rating: A
Thanks to NetGalley for a DRC of this book. This is my honest review of the book

[Golden Secondary School · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larsen, A. & Petrcic, D. (illustrator). (2013). In the tree house. Toronto: Kids Can Press.
ISBN: 9781554536351

This hardcover picture book tells the story of a young boy who builds a tree fort with his older brother and dad. He and his brother have a memorable tree fort summer but the following summer is just not the same.

The text is rhythmic with similar sentences repeated in a predictable, soothing manner. The narrative is moving without being sentimental. I would definitely read this book to my nephews.

Recommend for young children as a read aloud or those learning to read. I will probably use this book as a reference for my senior art class for pen and ink drawings.

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the Tree House by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Dusan Petricic (Kids Can Press, 2013) is a subtle book about childhood and a special place. Two brothers create a tree house together, but when the older brother "grows up" faster, the younger brother is discouraged and alone. It takes a black out to bring them back together. I loved the gorgeous illustrations, and it was a nice book overall. However, it seemed to have too much telling and not enough showing. It had lots of back story before it got to the climax of the blackout. Overall, it just didn't feel concise. There are other books with similar messages that read a lot better.

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a just fine book with some subtle moments of change -- a new house, a brother growing up, and a new night sky where you can't see stars -- that is, until the lights go out, and everybody goes outside and savors a star-studded evening for a few moments. The pictures, though well done, are a little too technical-cartoony for me, with some nice individual moments, like the father and two sons working together, the moment of the blackout, and the brothers reconnecting. But all in all, it's just a fine book -- perhaps good if you're looking for a summer-themed book for boys, or a book about brothers, but not fantastic or particularly visually exciting.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who has siblings can probably relate to this one. One summer, a boy and his older brother enjoy their treehouse playing games, reading comics and enjoying each other's company. The following summer, the older brother stops hanging out with the younger one. The younger brother spends his time in the treehouse missing his brother. When a blackout hits the neighborhood, the older brother joins the other in the treehouse where they bond all over again with comics and card games. It made me think of my own siblings (sharing a room with my sister for my first 8 years and having all-night Trivial Pursuit sessions with my brother). Let the nostalgia commence!

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Tree House by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Dusan Petricic – This reminded me of a few other beautiful books connected to electrical blackouts. Touching peaceful read aloud about a young boy who moves to a new home and begins designing his own treehouse which led to inspiring his older brother to create one as well, then inspiring his father as well. Beautiful transition to how the older brother grew up and didn’t have time for his little brother anymore… until a blackout. Beautiful story, loved the illustrations, especially the blackout. So glad this one came up in my radar…