THE CLIMBING TREE

A wonderful tree gives joy to children and animals in this picture book.

Somehow Eleanor, a little blonde girl, has never really noticed the large oak tree in the yard. Hoping to play with a squirrel that’s run up the tree, she decides to climb up herself. At first, it’s a little scary, but soon Eleanor is climbing the tree every day for games of pretend or just to cheer herself up. She’s sad to leave the tree when her family moves—but while visiting the new inhabitants, Eleanor teaches their little boy how to climb. The boy’s mother gives Eleanor a bag of acorns to plant at her new home. In this first volume of her Happy Happy After series, Leary creates a warm, affectionate atmosphere and offers an engagingly high-spirited girl, one who doesn’t let a first-time fall stop her from climbing. The tree isn’t just a place to play; she shares it with animals, bugs, and a new friend: “There was room enough in her tree for everyone.” Gal’s illustrations, nicely varied in composition, color, and shading, also add diversity, depicting a boy and his hijab-wearing mother with light brown skin.

A congenial celebration of play and generosity.