All Mike wants is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but his little brother used up all the ingredients! Unfazed, Mike cheerfully offers to go to the store as a big storm is about to hit. As Mike walks through his neighborhood, he comes across several friendly animals—including a caterpillar couple, a bird and her babies, and a team of ants—who had no idea a storm was coming and have nowhere to go. Mike quickly abandons his shopping mission so he can escort everyone to his old treehouse.
TREEHOUSE RESCUE is a sweet, short picture book that emphasizes caring for others and the unexpected joys found in changing plans. Although he appears to be fairly young (around 7-10 years old), Mike’s focus on the safety and happiness of those around him makes him a caring, mature character. Author Veronica Puig notes in the front matter that she wrote this book to honor the resilience of children with pediatric cancer and their families as they navigate the unexpected. Mike exemplifies this theme when, instead of getting upset at his little brother’s massive peanut butter and jelly tower, he identifies a solution that's within his control.
Jessica W. Cooper’s illustrations pair perfectly with the text. Besides Mike, most other characters are personified animals who pop off the page with distinct illustrations and traits. Cooper’s mix of colored pencil and watercolor give the story a timeless feel, and her use of subtle shading provides lovely texture to the background scenery.
While the story's length, themes, and overall approach seem intended for young readers, one aspect that might make the reading experience more difficult is the unnecessarily advanced vocabulary. Words like “clamorous” and “galvanized” often appear, even though they’re associated with a high-school reading level. This may make independent or guided reading attempts frustrating for young children, so TREEHOUSE RESCUE is best suited to a read-aloud with an adult. Caregivers or teachers should be prepared to pause to explain terms throughout. With this in mind, this work has strong appeal for readers aged 4-8 who love animals, short stories with a clear resolution, and happy endings focused on care and community.
Veronica Puig’s TREEHOUSE RESCUE is an uplifting picture book that's best suited for reading aloud. The gentle, colorful illustrations by Jessica W. Cooper add charm and whimsy to the text.
~ Cameron Gillespie for IndieReader