The Tickle Tree

by Chae Strathie

Have you ever been where the Tickle Tree grows? And laughed as it jiggles its twigs on your toes? If the answer is no, then please don't despair! It's really quite easy to find your way there!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Chae Strathie is an award-winning children’s author and journalist who grew up in a tiny village surrounded by a forest in Scotland, which probably explains a lot. His first attempt at professional writing was creating a Star Wars comic at the age of seven. He sold two copies and made a total of four pence. A regular at major book festivals, Chae has toured the length and breadth of the UK and visited schools as far afield as Romania, reading his stories, acting the goat and singing silly songs about worm ice cream and beard-growing. He lives in Dundee with three annoying cats and a very old goldfish called Lazarus.

Reviews

[Kristen Mcmahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dreamy fantasy, but I wanted so much more from it. This silly story is a ride through any given child's dreams, and the words whip and twirl around through beautiful images as children dream up crazy creatures like poo-mungles and snoots. However, I think that there are many elements of craft that could be more well developed in this particular story. The book is set up by asking lots of questions of whether or not the reader has experienced all these fantastical advertures like "giving a moonjack ride," but the author never takes readers on the adventures. The main issue I had with this was that the author spent the whole time talking about a setting that was never really given. You find out on the last page that she is writing about children's dreams. Just giving a bunch of questions about a place that readers are not yet familiar with does not give any information to make us interested in what is written. This is the same way that the characters lose purpose. Yes we know there crazy names, but what are they and why do I want to go on this magical journey with them? This whole book would be a better first section in a children's book. It sets up the interest, but it never delivers it by the time the story is finished. I think I could teach a class about how much more the author could have written about in this magical world that she built. Instead she just sets it up to end as soon as we find out where we are. Really, the beautiful illustrations is what carries this book.

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight for the eyes and music to the ears! This a magical story that will be sure to capture the imagination of every child...even the child within. Maybe it’s the rhythmic nonsensical made up words that seem to flow in a sing-song like fashion that lulls you into this wondrous place filled with fantastical creatures. Even if a word is mispronounced once in awhile, who would know? A two year old, that’s who.

[Cruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Chae Strathie
Illustrator: Poly Bernatene
First Published: 2008

While this reads as a bedtime story with lovely flights of fantasy and beautiful imagery, it does struggle to find it's target-market. The made up words and illustrations (a la Dr Seuss) lend themselves to an older group (eg 6+), the basics of bedtime and picture book are much younger (eg 3+), and then the imagination and meditation theme, as well as the text length and complexity of sentence and word structure, strike me as beginning somewhere in between.

Ultimately, this is a beautiful book. It is an enjoyable read for the grown up, and the elaborate images encourage image literacy. This is a book that could grow with a child, finding different things to appeal as she grows, and could be used in different educative scenarios.

But the child could also be lost due to the confusion of age/ability/expectation, and unwilling or unable to engage with the book.

Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 7+

(ISBN 9781845396251)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really fun trip visiting various new fantasy creatures! There's lots of rhyming, creative creatures, and beautiful illustrations. It reminds me a lot of Dr. Seuss. My son wants to read it every night!

[Montse Reyes Orraca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es más un 4.5 de calificación. Este pequeño y hermoso libro ilustrado nos cuenta las mil aventuras y criaturas que se pueden conocer en el mundo de los sueños. Ideal para leerse con los niños antes de dormir :) Próximamente una reseña completa en el blog ;)

[Elizabeth Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Tickle Tree” is a poem style children’s book about a little boy using his imagination with a tree that he characterizes as his friend. Throughout the story, he is asking the readers if they have a “tree” like he does, which can be symbolized as his friend. He continues to note that if you do not have a “tree” like he, then “you shouldn’t despair, as I’m sure that there’s some way for you to get there.” In the end of the story, it turns out that his imaginary tree friend was only a dream, and he was asleep the whole time.

The theme of “The Tickle Tree” consists mostly of imagination and adventure. Throughout the whole book, the little boy uses his imagination to befriend this tree by using new characters and lots of illustration to further explain his thoughts. This story also explains adventure that the little boy goes through in his dream by the illustration, but also the made-up words such as comparing dinner to a “boomjangle’s din” to help understand what the boy’s imagination consists of.

I personally connected with this story, because I felt as though it was filled with imagination and adventure, which is how I used to live my childhood. I would pretend to go skydiving off of ledges when I jumped off or be flying in a plane when I swung on the swing set. Through reading this story, I enjoyed getting to go on the little boy’s adventure with him and his Tickle tree. I also felt as though the artwork involved was very entertaining and

I would recommend this book to mid-elementary aged students that struggle with going to sleep or have difficult bedtime routines because the ending has an understanding that the boy went through all of this adventure in his dream. This way, students will want to enjoy their time with their own “tickle tree” inside of their dreams, just as the boy did.

[Kylie Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summarize the plot of the story.
The author is trying to entice you to fall asleep, to be able to get the tickle tree to take over your dreams.
Describe the character(s) within the story.
A little boy who follows the tickle tree throughout the story. He does not have a name and he does not have any background explained about him.
Discuss the text structure/characterization/illustrations.
The text uses unique words like a Dr.Suss book. It is strait and aligned on some pages and wavey on others.
What do you like (dislike) about the book?
I like that it's short and sweet and a good book to take your mind off of the world. I don't like that there is not other context to the book other than the tickle tree asking questions.
How could you use this book in the classroom? Provide examples.
I could see it being in my k-2 classrooms to fill space, but not to teach. I would use it after recess, or in-between lessons.

[Lynnie🐇 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a little kid and it is tied to some of my favorite memories. I think the fact that it doesn’t explain the weird things it describes just adds to the theme of the book itself, using your imagination. my mom and I used to giggle and chat about what a great big galumph would sound like, or if a wibblebird would jiggle around while it walked with you. this book has such a special place in my heart and someday I hope to read it to my own children🩵

[Stacy Natal · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my students brought this in to share with our group. All three students were completely enamored with the illustrations and imaginary words/things.

[Perfumegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a cute book...grandson loves it
great illustrations
a good bedtime story

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical flight of fancy in book form, with illustrations full of hidden details.
3.5 stars

[Allie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was really cute and it helped me figure out what types of children book style for my psychology projects

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful images. Imaginative story.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreams are never what they seem but always a pleasure to be part of. Pass through the Tickle Tree into a world of your imagination.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Love the imagination and creativity of the crazy animals and crazy things your dreams can bring you.

[J.Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our absolute favorites.

[Delaney June Dorko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun kids “fantasy” style book with an emphasis on the wonder of night time dreams. But as the reader, I had a hard time with the flow of the read. Still, worthy of a spot on our shelves.

[Kyley Crews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a tricky read with the looping text and nonsense words.

[Brittany Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful marvelous book I loved the way this book a funny words that rhymed and made your mind think, this was one of my favorites.

[Joshua Piorier Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing bed time story. Although it does leave the adult reader wanting more of the adventure, I can only imagine all of the little neurotransmitters firing during this ride. Which, might I add, has no beginning really and has you sitting at the peak of the rollercoaster the moment you open it. My childs eyes were fixated on all of the art on each page from start to finish. The story also takes place at night to add-venture to the unknown fantasy dreamland. Plus my child found this goodread in the value book box at Wal-Mart so, goodfind!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

PB11
This book is really cute! It would make for a great classroom read-aloud. Each child could try to tackle a page. The pictures in the book are great and extremely energetic. There are such interesting images like the one with the boat in the boys hair. I got this book out of the clearance pile, and I can't imagine why. I can see this being a really good book to get children's imaginations going.

[Meghan Brigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tickle Tree is a fun adventure through a fantast world. The author uses interesting words like giant galumph and boomjangle. The words are placed on the page in a sweeping motion which makes the reader feel like they are moving along with the text. This book is for children ages three to five. It is a fantasy adventure. The rich images are what I connected most with. They are visually very eye catching. I like the use of silly words as well.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute bedtime story for children of all ages! We certainly enjoyed this great new find snuggled up in our pj's and getting tucked into bed (toddler age 3). I see it being used many times over the next few years as a fun (slightly silly words type) book to be read at any time of day but primarily it is a bedtime story.

[White House Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable bedtime story!! The illustrations are beautifully drawn and make all the fantasy lands come to life. The cute made-up words have kids coming up with their own words, and really gets their creative juices flowing! Also a good book to read as a lead in for an art project like, Come up with your own fantasy land, etc. Enjoy! :)

[René · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books my daughter fell in love with and it is such a joy to read aloud. I stumbled upon it in a bargain rack for $1!!! And now I recommend it to everyone I know with little ones. Magical, rhythmic and imagination inspiring.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was about a tickle tree but when I read it,it was about a tickle tree and a giantgalumph,and a crabby snap,and a boom jangles din,and a wibble bird,and a blubbalub,and a grimble,and a moonjack,and a dennyfish,and a snugglebug as well

[Jaime the Wizzard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are the best part of this book. They are gorgeous and really worth getting the book.

The writing on the other hand...not so great. It felt like the author was trying really hard to be Dr. Seuss and just did not meet that goal. Just go read your kid some Seuss instead.

[Michelle Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting to follow. it has alot of made up words and the text is flowing and swirly. but it is an awesome adventure type book. absolutely adorable.

[Aine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable children's picture book. Loved the pictures and the swirling text.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I liked the pictures. The colors were so rich.