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The Adventures of Treehorn #2
Treehorn's Treasure
Edward Gorey Illustrated this book of Eeriness, condescending adults, cleavage, and money that grows from a tree- can it get any better than that? Treehorn discovers that his tree is sprouting dollar bills; gets some comic books, gum, lemonade, and chocolate, and then gets stuck at an Italian restaurant.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Florence Parry Heide
132 books40 followers"What do I like about writing for children? Everything," says Florence Parry Heide, the award-winning author of more than sixty children’s books, including the classic THE SHRINKING OF TREEHORN, illustrated by Edward Gorey. "I like the connection with children," the author says. "I like the connection with all kinds of book people. And I like the connection with my childhood self, which is the most of me. It is the most welcome and familiar of worlds. There miracles abound--indeed it is magical that something I might think of can be put into words, stories, ideas, and that those words end up in the heads of readers I will never meet."
Florence Parry Heide wrote SOME THINGS ARE SCARY, a humorous look at childhood bugaboos, more than thirty years ago. "I had finished another book and was in the mood to write something else," she says. "I decided to get some kindling from the garage, reached into the kindling box and--good grief!--grabbed something soft and mushy. I fled back to the house, scared to death." A brave return visit to the kindling box revealed the object of terror to be nothing more than a discarded wet sponge, but the thought remained: some things are scary. As she recalls, "What scared me as a child was that I’d never learn how to be a real grownup--and the fact is, I never did find out how it goes."
One thing Florence Parry Heide does have a good handle on is the concept of friendship, in all its humorous manifestations. THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, a tongue-in-cheek tale cowritten with Sylvia Van Clief in 1967, pokes at the tendency of well-meaning friends to offer advice instead of help, and presents a valuable lesson about what true friendship means. "One of my many (true) sayings is ‘A new friend is around the corner of every single day,’ " the author declares. "Also true: Friendships last. And last."
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Florence Parry Heide worked in advertising and public relations in New York City before returning to Pittsburgh during World War II. After the war, she and her husband moved to Wisconsin, where they raised five children, two of whom have cowritten critically acclaimed books with their mother. Florence Parry Heide now lives in Wisconsin.
Florence Parry Heide wrote SOME THINGS ARE SCARY, a humorous look at childhood bugaboos, more than thirty years ago. "I had finished another book and was in the mood to write something else," she says. "I decided to get some kindling from the garage, reached into the kindling box and--good grief!--grabbed something soft and mushy. I fled back to the house, scared to death." A brave return visit to the kindling box revealed the object of terror to be nothing more than a discarded wet sponge, but the thought remained: some things are scary. As she recalls, "What scared me as a child was that I’d never learn how to be a real grownup--and the fact is, I never did find out how it goes."
One thing Florence Parry Heide does have a good handle on is the concept of friendship, in all its humorous manifestations. THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, a tongue-in-cheek tale cowritten with Sylvia Van Clief in 1967, pokes at the tendency of well-meaning friends to offer advice instead of help, and presents a valuable lesson about what true friendship means. "One of my many (true) sayings is ‘A new friend is around the corner of every single day,’ " the author declares. "Also true: Friendships last. And last."
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Florence Parry Heide worked in advertising and public relations in New York City before returning to Pittsburgh during World War II. After the war, she and her husband moved to Wisconsin, where they raised five children, two of whom have cowritten critically acclaimed books with their mother. Florence Parry Heide now lives in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 8, 2020
Poor Treehorn, his parents barely listen to a word he says. He answer the telephone, 'hello, this is Treehorn, and his father goes on talking like it's his wife. He doesn't hear a word Treehorn says until Treehorn gives it 3 tries and then he gets it. The poor boy is so ignored.
Treehorn loves comics. He wants his allowance to get more. His father tells him to save money, so treehorn puts his dollar in an envelope and then into the hole of a tree. The tree begins to have its leaves turn into dollar bills. Treehorn collects 26$ and then goes on a spending spree.
The is a restaurant scene that is weird. Treehorn has to wait for the money to finish growing. The next day Treehorn's dad asks for the dollar bill. Treehorn gives it to him and then all the thousands of dollar bills begin to fade. Money was growing on a tree and no one listen to Treehorn.
It's an odd little story. I hope his next dollar bill, he gets to put it back in the tree.
I don't think this is Edward Gorey's best artwork. Florence wrote the story and Edward illustrated. It's simple and not all that interesting, but it was better than the 1st Treehorn book.
It was a whole different story than normal. This was on Openlibrary for free.
Treehorn loves comics. He wants his allowance to get more. His father tells him to save money, so treehorn puts his dollar in an envelope and then into the hole of a tree. The tree begins to have its leaves turn into dollar bills. Treehorn collects 26$ and then goes on a spending spree.
The is a restaurant scene that is weird. Treehorn has to wait for the money to finish growing. The next day Treehorn's dad asks for the dollar bill. Treehorn gives it to him and then all the thousands of dollar bills begin to fade. Money was growing on a tree and no one listen to Treehorn.
It's an odd little story. I hope his next dollar bill, he gets to put it back in the tree.
I don't think this is Edward Gorey's best artwork. Florence wrote the story and Edward illustrated. It's simple and not all that interesting, but it was better than the 1st Treehorn book.
It was a whole different story than normal. This was on Openlibrary for free.
May 4, 2018
In the Shrinking of Treehorn (1971), a boy shrinks and his parents pay this no attention. His teacher sees it and tells him it is not allowed. It is clear no one is really listening to him.
In Treehorn’s Treasure the premise continues: Treehorn speaks and no adult really listens. Treehorn, living in a boring home, loves to read wild escapist comics and wants to spend his allowance on them. His Dad wants him to save his money. Then the leaves on the backyard tree turn into dollar bills.
I love these kinds of exchanges throughout:
“The leaves on the tree are turning into dollar bills. I already picked twenty-six. When they get ripe I am going to pick some more.”
“I like a boy who likes nature,” said Aunt Bertha.
And “I’ve been thinking about that dollar that I gave you, Treehorn. I’m going to put it in a saving’s account for you. There’s nothing so satisfying as seeing money grow.”
“I know,” Treehorn said. “It’s growing on the tree out in the yard. I’m just going out now to pick some.”
“Not many boys your age have a savings account,” said Treehorn’s father. “You get the dollar and I’ll take it to the bank. You’re never too young to learn how to save.”
That deadpan humor is only enhanced by Gorey’s drawings, of course.
In Treehorn’s Treasure the premise continues: Treehorn speaks and no adult really listens. Treehorn, living in a boring home, loves to read wild escapist comics and wants to spend his allowance on them. His Dad wants him to save his money. Then the leaves on the backyard tree turn into dollar bills.
I love these kinds of exchanges throughout:
“The leaves on the tree are turning into dollar bills. I already picked twenty-six. When they get ripe I am going to pick some more.”
“I like a boy who likes nature,” said Aunt Bertha.
And “I’ve been thinking about that dollar that I gave you, Treehorn. I’m going to put it in a saving’s account for you. There’s nothing so satisfying as seeing money grow.”
“I know,” Treehorn said. “It’s growing on the tree out in the yard. I’m just going out now to pick some.”
“Not many boys your age have a savings account,” said Treehorn’s father. “You get the dollar and I’ll take it to the bank. You’re never too young to learn how to save.”
That deadpan humor is only enhanced by Gorey’s drawings, of course.
October 5, 2015
Excruciatingly fantastic. Where 'The Shrinking of Treehorn' introduces the notion of the child who is 'not heard' by the adults around him, this book takes the idea to the next level. It's as though all the human communications in the book occur through a thick static that impairs everyone's senses. Not only does Treehorn's every word go 'unheard' by the adults around him, but even his friend from school does not hear him; the waiter in the restaurant fails to see him or supply him with a seat, and his mother fails to order a meal for him or even notice his absence from the table for the whole meal. When his aunt pays him attention long enough to ask him a question, his mother answers for him, to the point of deciding his future career in an offhand manner.
The glorious irony of all this is that Treehorn accepts it without question. He takes it in his stride, and although placed in a seemingly powerless position, he independently and proactively pursues his plans to his own satisfaction (just under the line of vision of the adults in the book), and accepts the final turn of events with pragmatism.
Edward Gorey has his own subtext going on in the illustrations too, with wonderful visual forays into the mind of Treehorn, and hilariously witty depictions of the darkened restaurant and cloakroom. When Treehorn has trouble finding the right table 'because everyone was reading menus' he places the other characters into a black void, visually representing their complete absence from Treehorn's world. It's as though they are in a different universe.
Looking forward to hunting out the third book in the trilogy.
The glorious irony of all this is that Treehorn accepts it without question. He takes it in his stride, and although placed in a seemingly powerless position, he independently and proactively pursues his plans to his own satisfaction (just under the line of vision of the adults in the book), and accepts the final turn of events with pragmatism.
Edward Gorey has his own subtext going on in the illustrations too, with wonderful visual forays into the mind of Treehorn, and hilariously witty depictions of the darkened restaurant and cloakroom. When Treehorn has trouble finding the right table 'because everyone was reading menus' he places the other characters into a black void, visually representing their complete absence from Treehorn's world. It's as though they are in a different universe.
Looking forward to hunting out the third book in the trilogy.
May 10, 2018
A very enjoyable little book. Treehorn’s parents live by the Victorian dictum that “children should be seen and not heard”. Or rather than deliberately ignoring him, they seem incapable of hearing a single word that he says. Of course, most parents would not believe a child who claims that there is a money tree in the back yard, but would at least make an effort to listen to that child. I felt it served the parents right that they got none of the money, and was very pleased to see that Treehorn was able to buy lots of comics and sweets.
Even more worrying than the fact that Treehorn’ is not heard, at times he is not even seen. On a restaurant trip with his mother and aunt, the adults fail to notice that he has had no food – but do not forget to remind him how grateful he should be about being taken to such a fashionable restaurant.
The illustrations in the book are great. There is no distinction made between the pictures of the parent’s reality, Treehorn’s reality, and the comic books he reads. The wording of the comic books is written in CAPITALS, underlining perhaps, that the comic-book world is of more importance to Treehorn than his parent’s world.
Many children feel that their parents do not really listen to them – but hopefully, few have parents as deaf as Treehorn’s.
Even more worrying than the fact that Treehorn’ is not heard, at times he is not even seen. On a restaurant trip with his mother and aunt, the adults fail to notice that he has had no food – but do not forget to remind him how grateful he should be about being taken to such a fashionable restaurant.
The illustrations in the book are great. There is no distinction made between the pictures of the parent’s reality, Treehorn’s reality, and the comic books he reads. The wording of the comic books is written in CAPITALS, underlining perhaps, that the comic-book world is of more importance to Treehorn than his parent’s world.
Many children feel that their parents do not really listen to them – but hopefully, few have parents as deaf as Treehorn’s.
April 12, 2011
Treehorn's Treasure by Florence Parry Heide is the second in the Treehorn trilogy. In this one, the tree in the backyard briefly grows paper money and Treehorn is able to use it to buy the comics collection he has been wanting.
This book works with the same practical magic logic as The Shrinking of Treehorn. Something Treehorn puts in the tree makes the tree grow the paper money. When he removes it, the tree stops.
Like Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krause Rosenthal (review coming), the Treehorn books work on role reversal. He, though a child, acts as the responsible one while his parents are self absorbed and childish. Treehorn's parents, though present, ignore their son's need for attention. Nor do they listen to him when he mentions what he likes or wants.
What makes the story tick though, are Edward Gorey's wonderful pen and ink illustrations. It would be a very different series with a lighter or comedic touch to the pictures.
This book works with the same practical magic logic as The Shrinking of Treehorn. Something Treehorn puts in the tree makes the tree grow the paper money. When he removes it, the tree stops.
Like Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krause Rosenthal (review coming), the Treehorn books work on role reversal. He, though a child, acts as the responsible one while his parents are self absorbed and childish. Treehorn's parents, though present, ignore their son's need for attention. Nor do they listen to him when he mentions what he likes or wants.
What makes the story tick though, are Edward Gorey's wonderful pen and ink illustrations. It would be a very different series with a lighter or comedic touch to the pictures.
March 5, 2015
Lacks the understated disturbingness of the first book, but still good.
December 8, 2024
I liked this one better than the last. I guess I found Treehorn’s imagination amongst all kinds of parental neglect intriguing. Somehow the money tree and the comic obsession were endearing.
January 10, 2020
[This is my Livejournal review from the first time I read this.]
Treehorn's Treasure, by former Pittsburgher, Florence Parry Heide, is a sequel to the immortal The Shrinking of Treehorn which I read recently. This one, too, is illustrated by the equally immortal Edward Gorey. Again, I can recommend it.
Face facts; you might as well just get the trilogy.
This one was published a decade after its predecessor, but the theme had not withered over time: here again Treehorn is being ignored by the adults. His father gives him a dollar, but insists that he save it. Treehorn hides it in a knothole in the tree outside, and soon discovers that some of the leaves on that tree are turning into dollar bills. Bills he uses to buy comic books, and other important supplies.
Treehorn mentions to several adults that the leaves are turning into dollar bills, and the adults respond in several ways, but, of course, none of them think to check out the tree.
What does all this mean for the economy?????
Well, I won't spoil it.
Treehorn's Treasure, by former Pittsburgher, Florence Parry Heide, is a sequel to the immortal The Shrinking of Treehorn which I read recently. This one, too, is illustrated by the equally immortal Edward Gorey. Again, I can recommend it.
Face facts; you might as well just get the trilogy.
This one was published a decade after its predecessor, but the theme had not withered over time: here again Treehorn is being ignored by the adults. His father gives him a dollar, but insists that he save it. Treehorn hides it in a knothole in the tree outside, and soon discovers that some of the leaves on that tree are turning into dollar bills. Bills he uses to buy comic books, and other important supplies.
Treehorn mentions to several adults that the leaves are turning into dollar bills, and the adults respond in several ways, but, of course, none of them think to check out the tree.
What does all this mean for the economy?????
Well, I won't spoil it.
August 17, 2012
Florence Parry Heide, who sadly passed away this year, is a celebrity in my town, especially at the library. Her foundation has created a plethora of children's events.
And her books are great. I don't appreciate children's books that exist just to make children feel better about something or other.
Treehorn is ignored by his parents. His books don't have happy endings. More like, real life endings.
I think the books are hysterical and weird and just wonderful.
And her books are great. I don't appreciate children's books that exist just to make children feel better about something or other.
Treehorn is ignored by his parents. His books don't have happy endings. More like, real life endings.
I think the books are hysterical and weird and just wonderful.
January 16, 2015
I got this book from a second hand store this morning. I kind of liked the idea that the poor kid's name was Treehorn. It's a rather random and slightly bizarre book. Not sure kids would actually get the point of the story but it speaks volumes to an adult.
September 25, 2013
Such a bizarre little book, but it is good for teaching the difference between wants and needs as well as introducing the fact that money really does not just magically appear or grow on trees. It is something that should be worked for and valued.
January 1, 2017
Love this one - the art is perfect for the somewhat mystifying world of Treehorn - where grownups completely ignore what Treehorn says.
This time, he's found a tree that actually grows money, which he spends on candy and comics.
This time, he's found a tree that actually grows money, which he spends on candy and comics.
June 30, 2016
This is one of my five star books because it has heart and it has classical humour and it is great. The illustrations are very excellent and the story really captures what it is like to be a child, how we percieve the world and everything in it, and also how we are percieved.
May 14, 2018
Treehorn is living between the childhood life we all felt like we were living (virtually ignored by the adult world) and the life we wish we were living (money tree). A real delight with Gorey illustrations and Heid's simple but fun story.
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July 29, 2012I like the quirky story telling style of the author
November 12, 2012
Hilarious!
May 16, 2014
The leaves on the tree in Treehorn's backyard almost magically turn into dollar bills, his father doesn't notice and tells him and his mother to save.
July 26, 2021
Grownups are always saying "money doesn't grow on trees." Perhaps, the grownups are not paying enough attention.
January 25, 2022
I love these Treehorn books. The dry humor tickles me to the marrow of my bones. BRILLIANT! Love, love, love!
December 10, 2022
We are all Treehorn.
December 28, 2023
really fun story , I love Gorey's art and the story.
January 14, 2025
fun story especially as illustrated.
September 13, 2025
следующий эпизод нелепых похождений ребенка в мире взрослых, которые его не слышат (а он не слышит их). весь абсурд, конечно, строится на разрыве всех связей, очень весело
November 5, 2013
Read the French translations of the entire Treehorn series. Classics, all of them. The illustrations in this book remain appealing and modern 40 years on. That all things should age so well . . .
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews