March 13, 2023
In this comic dialogue from Agee (Otto: A Palindrama), a child plotting to stay outside “all day long” invites a parent to engage in pretend play—as a tree. In response to young Madeleine’s inducement to “pretend your arms are branches... and then stand in one place. Like this,” Dad obediently spreads his arms wide, “but only for a minute.” A page turn later, Agee’s signature illustrations show a small gray owl landing on Dad’s shoulder. Soon, more birds appear (“A robin is making a nest in your hair!”), and before long, Dad is closer to the outdoors than he had bargained for (“You are a very good tree!”). As the farce builds beyond believable proportions and into moments of hilarity—Dad develops “itches and tickles” from newly resident wildlife, withstands a stuck kite, and stands tall as the weather turns foul—Madeleine sagely proffers reassurances involving trees’ nature: “That’s OK, Dad. Trees don’t mind getting wet.” It’s both a satisfying role-reversal comedy, as Madeleine cheerfully bulldozes hapless Dad, and a quirky meditation on the human capacity for transformation. The characters present as white. Ages 4–8.
April 1, 2023
Dendrophilia is the name of the game in this tale of a patriarch emulating his leafy neighbors. When Dad finds Madeleine imitating a tree, he asks why. "Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!" the child explains. After Madeleine begs Dad to join in, he acquiesces, but "only for a minute!" Trouble is, Dad is a particularly convincing tree. First a baby owl falls asleep on his shoulder, and then a robin makes a nest in his hair. Soon Dad is covered in animals, getting hit by kites, becoming soaked in the rain, and standing outside in the dark. Each provocation, however, is met with Madeleine's assurance that trees don't mind these trivialities. And when it's time to go inside, the child agrees, "We definitely are not trees. But that's OK." After all, they got to be outside all day! Agee eschews his usual penchant for peculiarities with this sweet tale. Dad's the straight man here, and Agee is unafraid to have him deadpan a look right at viewers when situations become particularly wacky. Accompanied by textured, collagelike visuals, this is an amusing little ode to the extent to which dads sometimes go above and beyond. Madeleine and Dad are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A fun paean to fathers willing to go the extra mile for their nature-loving kids. (Picture book. 2-4)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 1 A girl stands serenely, about knee-high, in her yard, arms branching outward, feet rooted to the ground, because, of course, she's pretending to be a tree. Why? ""Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!"" When her dad finds out what she's doing, she persuades him to join her. ""Just for a minute,"" he insists, but what follows is a full day of tree-ish shenanigans. As the dad is besieged by various discomforts--birds, bugs, rain, kites--his daughter reassures him that those things don't bother trees, and a hilariously befuddled Dad stays in character. Agee illustrates the story in beautifully simple strokes, employing his trademark style through a softly bright color palette. The consistency of the setting--father and daughter standing as trees beside an actual tree--allows young readers to easily identify Dad's incoming irritants, giving the humor a guaranteed punch. Kids will be tickled by the playful premise and the control exerted by the child over the parent. A fun, funny lap read--but dads beware.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2023
While her father does yard work, Madeleine stands still, arms outstretched. She's pretending to be a tree, "because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!" When Dad agrees to join in the imaginative play ("only for a minute"), a baby owl falls asleep on his shoulder, a robin builds a nest in his hair, a spider spins a web in his armpit, a squirrel slides an acorn into his shirt pocket, and more. Then a kite flies into his face, rain starts to fall, and it gets dark. Dad insists that they go inside, but then the baby owl on his shoulder wakes up. It joins its mother in a real tree, and father and child bond over witnessing this moment in nature. Madeleine's goal has been achieved too: "We got to stay outside all day long!" Agee keeps the compositions and dialogue uncluttered and unfussy ("Dad, you are a very good tree!"), and children will delight in the visual hyperbole -- the growing number of creatures who pile on Dad. This entertaining story expresses what children know so well: playing outside can be filled with surprises. Julie Danielson
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from May 26, 2023
PreS-Gr 1-While her dad completes some yard work, Madeleine stands still, arms outstretched, pretending to be a tree. "Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!" Madeleine gets her dad to join in and the neighborhood wildlife clearly finds Dad's act convincing. He soon finds himself host to a growing menagerie of birds, itchy insects, and even an industrious squirrel. Madeleine repeatedly informs him that trees aren't bothered by any of these things, but after a kite to the face and pouring rain it is clear Dad's patience is wearing thin. It is not until the dark of night falls that Dad finally insists to Madeleine that they are not trees. She happily agrees, sharing a smile with her father to celebrate an entire day spent outdoors. This is a humorous story infused with a simple joy and a few wry winks to adults. The text is entirely dialogue, without any word bubbles or dialogue tags. The placement of the words and context clues make it clear which character is speaking. Their banter is enhanced by Agee's trademark witty illustrations. The charm of this story is how entirely absorbed Dad becomes in his child's play. Even though he is clearly annoyed by some of the aspects of nature he endures, he never once breaks the conceit of their game. The impact of this child-centered behavior is evident on Madeleine's constantly smiling face and will likely lead to smiles on readers' faces as well. Recommend to fans of the TV show Bluey, who are familiar with fathers losing themselves in their children's playscapes. VERDICT A silly celebration of play, imagination, and devoted fathers that would enhance a Father's Day program or display. Recommended for first purchase.-Elizabeth Lovsin
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2023
While her father does yard work, Madeleine stands still, arms outstretched. She's pretending to be a tree, "because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!" When Dad agrees to join in the imaginative play ("only for a minute"), a baby owl falls asleep on his shoulder, a robin builds a nest in his hair, a spider spins a web in his armpit, a squirrel slides an acorn into his shirt pocket, and more. Then a kite flies into his face, rain starts to fall, and it gets dark. Dad insists that they go inside, but then the baby owl on his shoulder wakes up. It joins its mother in a real tree, and father and child bond over witnessing this moment in nature. Madeleine's goal has been achieved too: "We got to stay outside all day long!" Agee keeps the compositions and dialogue uncluttered and unfussy ("Dad, you are a very good tree!"), and children will delight in the visual hyperbole -- the growing number of creatures who pile on Dad. This entertaining story expresses what children know so well: playing outside can be filled with surprises.
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)