Up in the Leaves by Shira Boss - ADVISABLE

Up in the Leaves by Shira Boss, illustrated by Jamey Christoph.  PICTURE BOOK  Sterling Children’s Books, 2018.  $17.  9781454920717  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE  

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL  

Bob Redman lives in busy New York City but he doesn’t like feeling closed in, so he often climbs things to get above the rush of people.  His favorite place to climb is at Central Park and he eventually starts to build tree-houses in the park’s trees.  The city workers take down his tree-houses whenever they see them, but throughout Ben’s childhood he continues to rebuild and often expand on his tree-house ideas.  One day the park workers catch Ben and ask him if he wants a job and he starts working in Central Park.  

This is a true story and I loved that Ben found solace in the trees.  I also loved that he wasn’t punished for building his tree-houses but asked if he wanted a job.  The illustrations are my favorite part and added that extra something that gave the story feeling.  The book has an epilogue about Bob Redman and a picture of him.  

C. Peterson