Up in the Tree

by Margaret Atwood

Book by Margaret Atwood

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Canada, Fantasy, Nature, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2006

About the author

Margaret Atwood was born in 1939 in Ottawa and grew up in northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and her master's degree from Radcliffe College.

Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth ­ in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.

Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww, Baby's first Margaret Atwood!

And by Baby, I really mean me, because other than this I have only read a couple very short stories of hers on line (the Hamlet's Mother one and something else, I forget). This is probably not representative of her oeuvre. It is so cute, so wholesome, so friendly, so Canadian! Look at the brother and sister getting along so well! Look at their happy, simple lives where the worst catastrophe is running out of tea! Look at their sensible haircuts and sturdy cable-knit sweaters! This book makes me want to go live in a tree. In Canada. And learn some carpentry.

[Robert Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Margaret Atwood explains in her introduction to the 2006 facsimile edition, when this book was originally published in 1978, illustrated children's books were considered too expensive to publish in Canada. So, Ms. Atwood wrote, illustrated and hand lettered the type, and to further save costs, only two colors were used as three would have been too expensive. She admits that both the methods and results were somewhat primitive. But nonetheless, the book is both charming and colorful, albeit in a dichromatic fashion.

[BookCupid · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you wake up from a strange dream and wonder how you can go back to it?

Well, that's kind of how this book goes. Two little kids live in a tree and love it beyond all the crazy weather changes. And then some beavers show up and steal their ladder and the tree just isn't as fun to be on anymore.

I mean, there's no more tea! I'd go crazy desperate. Heck, I'd jump from the tree.

Instead these two get rescued only to go back up again. I believe there is a moral to this story. Sometimes even if you lived through a situation that went sour, you wish you could go back to it and make it better.

[Nazari · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿Quién de niño no ha soñado con tener una casita en el árbol?
La desaparición de la escalera es la perdida del trámite que hacía de ese lugar mágico un lugar seguro, porque conectado siempre a su puerto de origen desde el cual los niños zarpan para descubrir el mundo y su propio mundo interior.
Este libro infantil de Margaret Atwood, escritora más que todo de ciencia ficción, me ha sorprendido lo sutil y bello, lo publico en 1978 y era tan caro imprimir a color en esa época en Canadá, que la autora decidió ilustrar el libro y publicarlo por si misma, gracias a su experiencia en publicidad, utilizo una técnica en donde solo se manejaba azul, rojo y tonos cafés que rompen con delicadeza y firmeza con el blanco de fondo, su pigmentación y elaboración a mano es admirable.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

There I was with my wife in a used bookstore with a saleswoman who we knew well, well enough to know that she knew relatively little about books, and I looked at the shelves over her shoulder and, GASP, I saw a children's book written by MARGARET ATWOOD!!!! I confess that we never knew she'd written any. We asked Daniela about the book and she replied, "Who's Margaret Atwood?" We gave her a little schooling on the subject and then inquired demurely how much it cost: more than we had but we pooled our pennies and it was ours! An interesting story, if I remember it right, is that when she wrote it, it was in relatively few colors because their wasn't enough money for more inks. No matter, a great kids' story and flashy colors are overrated anyway!

[abcdefg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a children's book that Margaret Atwood wrote, illustrated, and even hand-lettered herself. Using only two colors (blue and red) that she mixed together since it would have been apparently too expensive to print in Canada in 1978, she creates a delightful little story about two children in a tree, who find themselves stuck and unable to find a way down.

I thought the illustrations were fairly impressive considering they were done on a limited budget. I had no idea that Margaret Atwood had a background in poster design and printing. There's quite a bit of detail in the expressions on the children's faces and on their animal friends' faces too.

A good one for little ones.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the simple mix of color to the cadence of the words, this is a wonderful children's book. Stumbled across it in our local library. Would be great for teaching reading, since it is fairly easy to memorize and there are a lot of repeated words.

"We live in the a tree. Way up in a tree. It's fun in the sun and a pain in the rain, but we both have umbrellas way up in the tree." I could probably recite the whole book, as could my 4 year old at the time.

[Airy Peña-Camacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hice este libro cuando la edición de libros para niños en Canadá estaba dando sus primeros pasos. Solo podíamos utilizar dos colores, porque tres hubieran encarecido la impresión en exceso. De ahí el azul, el rojo y el curioso color pardo que resulta de la combinación de los otros dos.
Tenía una cierta experiencia en el diseño e impresión de carteles —en mis tiempos de universidad, a finales de los años cincuenta, monté un pequeño negocio de carteles serigrafiados que llevaba desde una mesa de ping pong— de modo que sabía como rotular. Los dibujos eran en blanco y negro, a plumilla y tinta, y luego y indicaba al editor donde debía aplicarse cada uno de los dos colores.
Las técnicas eran primitivas —entonces la informática no estaba muy desarrollada- y los resultados también parecen algo primitivos, pero sigo sintiendo un cariño muy grande por este libro."
-Margaret Atwood, 2005

Yo no sabía que Margaret Atwood había sacado un libro infantil pero siendo yo la fan que soy de su trabajo, por supuesto que iba a leerlo. El hecho de que ella lo hubiese escrito y rotulado lo vuelve algo tan precioso, y con una historia sencilla pero bonita para los niños, esta acabo siendo una muy grata sorpresa.
Cuando tenga hijos —sobre todo si son niñas— me va a dar tanto placer que uno de sus primeros libros sea algo creado por Atwood.

3.5/5 estrellas

[Marianne Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barnebok fra Atwood denne gang, fra 1978. Søt :)

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super charming picture book! I love that Margaret Atwood did the lettering and illustrations herself. It's super interesting to think of Atwood running a printing business on a ping-pong table, and using that experience when designing the book. It's printed with 2 colors (sometimes combined to make a third) to save money. And of course it's dedicated to her daughter.

It's not something I would read at storytime, but it is something I might read with a little one (like Emily's baby) on my lap.

[Catarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* This was my first ever Margaret Atwood read, and I really liked the details of the handwritten text and the brief explanation for the use of solely red and blue in the illustrations. However, and even though I could see the potential of the plot, I can't shake the feeling that something was missing.

[Yaprak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret Atwood'un bir çocuk kitabı olduğunu biliyor muydunuz? Ben bilmiyordum açıkçası. Atwood, hem yazmış hem de resimlemiş bu çocuk kitabını. Ağacın En Tepesinde, ağaçlarını çok seven iki kardeşin hikayesini anlatıyor. 🌳Çocuk kitabı olarak çok harika bulmasam da Atwood'un resimlerini çizdiği bir kitabı okumak keyifliydi. ☺️

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, but I think I might have missed an essential plot twist.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atwood's first children's book.

Quite charming. I would have been tickled by the thought of living in a tree when I was small.

[Kristy McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know Margaret Atwood had written a picture book! Very sweet and funny!

[Cataluna6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the colour scheme and the illustrations. Margaret explains that this was produced in the early days of kids publishing in Canada. There was only two colours because more would be too costly, she hand lettered the book for the same reasons. It's very simply drawn, but I feel like that is part of it's charm.

I think the story is fun, but it is a little jilted because only parts of it are rhyming. I think kids would like the idea of living in a tree and it could be fun to dream up ways of getting up and down the tree. I really want to know why the (Otters? Wombats?) took the ladder and then buried it?!?! Why dudes, why? I didn't love it, it was a fun, silly read.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming vintage Atwood--this facsimile is a delightful book for collectors of classic children's literature. The fact that it was printed in two colors, however (in order to save on costs) definitely gives a vintage vibe that contemporary children may or may not be receptive to. Many kids probably wouldn't care, but if your intended reader is really into colorful, detailed graphics, this isn't the book for them.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thankful for Library loans and lists of important books you should attempt to track down. I’m working my way, with my kids, through the Book “ 1001 Books to Read before you grow up.” Some I would have never thought to look for, and each is unique. This one, I’m not sure I really got the story, but it was a fun read. I especially liked the authors note on why there are so few colors. The changes in books, technology and society happens so fast. I’m glad we are on this adventure of reading.

[Maria Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tuve el placer de leer la hermosa edición del libro publicada por Ediciones Ekaré y me pareció un excelente libro para iniciarse a la lectura y a la poesía en general. El arte tiene una apariencia un poco nostálgica y me recuerda es eso libros que se usan para aprender a leer y tienen frase como "mi mama me mima" para aprender la letra M. Seria un excelente regalo.

[Perla ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que libro tan precioso. Me llamó la atención al ver que era escrito por Atwood así que lo leí mientras estaba en la librería. Super cortito pero bien ejecutado. Los dibujos están hermosos y me encantó que explica la razón de los colores en las ilustraciones, las tonalidades que usa hacen que el libro se vea super acogedor.

Anotado para la lista de libros que compraré cuando tenga hijos ☺️

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two children live up in a tree!
This is a fun rhyming picture book that we read for the 1001 Children's Books to Read Before You Grow Up list.
This picture book was handdrawn and handlettered by Margaret Atwood herself!

[Neil Pasricha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Atwood’s dad was a forest entomologist and she grew up in the backwoods of northern Quebec. I imagine her wandering under white spruce and jack pines letting her imagination fester. She started writing poems and stories at six years old and didn’t start full-time school until she was twelve. When she arrived at the University of Toronto in the 1950s she had a dozen years of poetry under her belt and started up a serigraph poster-making business. She ran it off a ping-pong table and the business helped her master lettering and drawings. These histories feed all the way into the playful profundity of this whimsical children’s book she wrote, lettered, and illustrated in 1976 – many years before her big hits like The Handmaid’s Tale. “We live in a tree, way UP in a tree. It’s fun in the sun And a pain in the rain, But we both have umbrellas, Way up in the tree.” A magical treat that feels like a lost book but was graciously republished in 2006 by House of Anansi Press in beautiful new hardcover. 32 pages of simple rhymes with deep soul. A trip you'll be glad you took. Publisher says it's for ages 3-6 but I say ignore that. You do you.

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admiro mucho que el año 1978 haya escrito este libro teniendo en cuenta los altos costos de libros ilustrados para niños, decidiendo usar una paleta sencila de colores en base al rojo y al alzul. Lamentablemente, siento que en la traducción de este libro se pierden muchas rimas del original.

Es una historia donde si bien hay conflictos, aparecen soluciones, y aparecen amigos que se tienden una mano. Más aún, los dos amigos durante toda la historia se tienen el uno al otro, lo que lo convierte en un libro muy tierno. Y pese a que veces dudan y tienen miedos, hacen lo que quieren hacer finalmente.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a favorite picture book - the rhythms are off and the rhymes don't work BUT I love Atwood's explanation of how and when the book came to be. Life isn't always what it seems and it's always good to have an escape plan, even if you want to stay in the same place.

[Freddie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Margaret Atwood, I was surprised and delighted to find that she had written (and illustrated) this children's book! The rhyme is just perfect for littlies and it's both funny and endearing.

[Shelly Swearingen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Up in the Tree by Margaret Atwood.

[Dorthe Svendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nydelig barnebok for de minste som vil lære seg engelsk, som liker naturen og som kan tenke litt dypt. En kan komme inn på savn, minner, reise, hytte, og mye mye mer ved å lese denne lille blekks. Atwood er også en god barnebokforfatter viser det seg.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atwood’s hand drawings are very sweet!

[Burchino · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutly poetic, that's why it should have been read in the original language .

[Sha Mohamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good..