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THE TOGETHER TREEHOUSE

Name: THE TOGETHER TREEHOUSE
Author: Michael Engler
ISBN: 9781782509561

by Michael Engler ; illustrated by Joëlle Tourlonias ; translated by Polly Lawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2026

Doesn’t quite come together.

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A child builds community.

Best friends Sam and Milo are working on a treehouse when Milo learns that he and his family will be relocating. After Milo leaves, a bereft Sam finds it difficult to carry out their plans alone. Then Martha moves into Milo’s old house with her family, and though Sam resists her initial overtures of friendship, he ends up impressed by her vision for completing the treehouse. Working as a team, with lots of tools and no adult help, they build a complex structure, which becomes a gathering place for them and for many other children, who suddenly appear in the story. Their unexplained presence isn’t the only bumpy part of the narrative, originally published in Germany; dialogue, especially Martha’s, feels rather stilted and adult (“I know Milo was special, but it’s okay to build other friendships too. Like ours”). Tourlonias’ illustrations have a rather stiff quality, the people looking doll-like, akin to Precious Moments figurines, though not in a pastel palette. When Milo returns for a visit, the story comes full circle, but that’s not enough to create a satisfying read. Sam and Milo have light-tan skin, while Martha is brown-skinned.

Doesn’t quite come together. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 19, 2026

ISBN: 9781782509561

Page Count: 30

Publisher: Floris

Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
A TIGER LIKE ME
by Michael Engler ; illustrated by Joëlle Tourlonias ; translated by Laura Watkinson

- BOOK REVIEW
ELEPHANTASTIC
by Michael Engler ; illustrated by Joëlle Tourlonias ; translated by Ann Garlid

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)