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The Tree House That Jack Built
Best-selling illustrator Mark Teague brings Bonnie Verburg's irresistable rhyming text that is brimming with animals and action to vivid life!Here is the boyup in the treewhere he built a house overlooking the sea.Yes! This is the tree house that Jack built!With ladders, swings, turrets,and elaborate pulley systems everywhere--animals chase one anotherover, under, around, and through.And then--the bell rings.Where are all the animals going?Readers will pore over every detailof Mark Teague's spellbinding pictures.And Bonnie Verburg's irresistible rhyming textleads readers to a soothing end of a wondrous dayin the most exciting tree house ever!
Paperback
First published May 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 20, 2018
With a tropical island tree house, you'd expect a little more adventure and some better views of an amazing tree house; not pictures of animals and Jack reading a book to them.
Ages: 4 - 8
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 4 - 8
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
January 29, 2023
The Tree House that Jack Built
I Picked Up This Book Because: Jaxson request.
Media Type: Paperback
Source: Jax’s Collection
Dates Read: 1/28/23
Stars: 3
The Story:
The story was cute with great illustrations. The rhyming scheme was clunky and awkward to me but Jaxson loved it and that’s all that matters.
I Picked Up This Book Because: Jaxson request.
Media Type: Paperback
Source: Jax’s Collection
Dates Read: 1/28/23
Stars: 3
The Story:
The story was cute with great illustrations. The rhyming scheme was clunky and awkward to me but Jaxson loved it and that’s all that matters.
April 27, 2015
Love the pictures. Love the imagination. The text starts out great, but then the rhythm and rhyme get very jilty. And it starts to feel like its dragging. It could end well in one or two places, but it keeps going. (Though how it goes works if this is a bedtime story.) And then the last page was so out of place in rhyme and rhythm, it was jarring. But I don't think the little kids will mind, so I'm going to include this in my Trees storytime.
4/22/15 Went very well in reading the book. I had them join in on animal noises and actions that were mentioned. They liked that. I think they enjoyed seeing the great tree house. And one kid was so excited to see that Jack was reading the same book we were! (Good observation skills, sir.)
4/22/15 Went very well in reading the book. I had them join in on animal noises and actions that were mentioned. They liked that. I think they enjoyed seeing the great tree house. And one kid was so excited to see that Jack was reading the same book we were! (Good observation skills, sir.)
February 23, 2014
The Tree House That Jack Built did not work for me. Then again, I'm not usually a fan of any adaptation of the House that Jack Built. This one had potential in the beginning. But with the introduction of the parrot, well, the text just lost it. It lost the rhythm and the rhyme and the patterning. By the end, I felt it was a mess. That being said, the best thing about this one is the bright, bold illustrations by Mark Teague. I really loved the illustrations. I thought they were very well done.
September 7, 2024
At Jack's treehouse, some lizards are trying to snap at the fly buzzing by. But then there's a parrot pecking at the lizard flying by. Could there be anything after the parrot? Of course, there's the cat who is swatting at the parrot. More and more animals all chase each other until a loud boom come's from Jack's Tree House. What would these animals stop and gather around for? Jack's story time nonetheless.
This would be perfect to use in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. This would be perfect to practice sequencing of events.
This would be perfect to use in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. This would be perfect to practice sequencing of events.
May 6, 2017
A cute story about the ever-evolving list of things that take place strung Jack's treehouse, from animals to nature, and even the passing of the day. Neo learned about hammocks and would like one for himself, mainly because you tie them up, like in a fort. A great story to fuel his dreams.
August 23, 2018
Nothing amazing, exactly what I expected from a cumulative story (actually a little less repetitive than I expected, which I appreciate). Good pictures though, and they go great with my tree house themed storytime, so I'll display it during that anyway. 2+
February 1, 2023
This was like listening to Izzy Kamakawiwoʻole while dangling your feet over the side of "George of the Jungle's" amazing tree house. Pleasant, poetic, full of animals and sea breeze and island vibes, not very significant but still enjoyable.
August 28, 2024
You'll have to see it to believe it. This is no ordinary tree house. This rhyming, fun tale tells of a house so amazing, and what's even more amazing that it was built by a boy named Jack who leaves no stone unturned as he shares his humble abode with all who will visit.
August 5, 2017
A cute little parody of the original House that Jack Built story. The story is punchy and the illustrations come alive like only Mark Teague can.
April 12, 2018
GRL: M
DRA: 24
DRA: 24
May 3, 2018
This is a beautiful book - a rhyming cumulative story similar to original The House That Jack Built. Fun!
May 18, 2019
Read for my Tree Storytime. Really cute; nice bedtime story.
July 20, 2019
Beautiful pictures and great rhymes! A good quick read for bedtime that inspires outdoor adventures, craftsmanship, and love of nature!
August 18, 2019
In this charming tropical take on "The House That Jack Built," this young Jack has a multi-level playhouse in a banyan tree on the seashore, and it is filled with animal friends and inventive gizmos.
October 11, 2019
Mark Teague is an great illustrator, but this book didn't have much of a story to tell. We wouldn't check out again.
September 19, 2020
Good illustrations, the repetition is helpful for weak readers.
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April 3, 2021An instant favorite. Read several times immediately. "Why did Jack build a treehouse? Why is he just wearing shorts?"
October 15, 2021
"I liked that it was about a treehouse!" --Isaac, age 5.
I think Isaac was being generous with his review. I didn't enjoy this one. --Mama
I think Isaac was being generous with his review. I didn't enjoy this one. --Mama
February 18, 2022
A tale of a boy and his island friends.
September 2, 2023
A cute bedtime story, illustrated beautifully with so many animals in Jack's tree house! A great book to read before bed to little ones.
November 22, 2025
Beautiful end pages
Acrylic paintings by Mark Teague
Jack built a magnificent house in a banyan tree.
Acrylic paintings by Mark Teague
Jack built a magnificent house in a banyan tree.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
The book highlights beautiful pictures and the text shows a creative imagination. I would believe this book is a great way to incorporate in story time/circle time.
March 22, 2017
The Illustrations were amazing.
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March 5, 2017Picture book. Illustrations breath life into the story. Creative twist on classic rhyme.
February 21, 2017
Picture book
In my opinion, the illustrations were better than the text.
There are too many words per page for it to be read alone.
This is clearly a bed time book for parents to read to students.
That doesn't make it bad.
It just doesn't fit into my classroom library very well.
Maybe I need to start a suggested reading list for parents. this would be great for them to read at home.
In my opinion, the illustrations were better than the text.
There are too many words per page for it to be read alone.
This is clearly a bed time book for parents to read to students.
That doesn't make it bad.
It just doesn't fit into my classroom library very well.
Maybe I need to start a suggested reading list for parents. this would be great for them to read at home.
November 20, 2015
Review originally published at The Children's Book and Media Review
Jack built a tree house by the sea, but then many animals come to the tree house with jack. First it’s a fly, then a lizard, then a parrot, a cat, and so on. They have all come to hear Jack read a book. This particular book is about a boy who lives in a tree house by the sea and all of the animals are his friends. Starting with a twist on the familiar story of “the house that Jack built,” the story takes on its own identity in Jack’s tree house.
Unlike the nursery rhyme, this book starts out repeating the animals, but soon tells its own story without the repetition of every item, although some things are occasionally repeated. Because of this, the rhyme and rhythm loses its pattern at some points in the book. The illustrations of the animals and the tree house are colorful and fun, but the loss of the poetic form of the text takes away from the book’s impact, particularly when the book is read aloud.
Jack built a tree house by the sea, but then many animals come to the tree house with jack. First it’s a fly, then a lizard, then a parrot, a cat, and so on. They have all come to hear Jack read a book. This particular book is about a boy who lives in a tree house by the sea and all of the animals are his friends. Starting with a twist on the familiar story of “the house that Jack built,” the story takes on its own identity in Jack’s tree house.
Unlike the nursery rhyme, this book starts out repeating the animals, but soon tells its own story without the repetition of every item, although some things are occasionally repeated. Because of this, the rhyme and rhythm loses its pattern at some points in the book. The illustrations of the animals and the tree house are colorful and fun, but the loss of the poetic form of the text takes away from the book’s impact, particularly when the book is read aloud.
September 20, 2014
This repetitive book is geared toward lower elementary students. It is about a boy named Jack and his tree house. The book talks about all of the animals that come and visit the tree house (a dog, a cat, a parrot, a lizard, a whale, and many more). Once all of the animals arrive at the tree house they listen to Jack read a story (The Tree House that Jack Built) about themselves.
This book is very repetitive and would allow all readers the opportunity to read along. This story could be used when teaching students reading strategies. The illustrations tell the story, so this would be a great story to teach children to use their "Eagle Eye" and look at the pictures when they come to a word they don't know.
I gave this book 3 stars because it is a very literal book and does not have a deeper meaning or theme.
This book is very repetitive and would allow all readers the opportunity to read along. This story could be used when teaching students reading strategies. The illustrations tell the story, so this would be a great story to teach children to use their "Eagle Eye" and look at the pictures when they come to a word they don't know.
I gave this book 3 stars because it is a very literal book and does not have a deeper meaning or theme.
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November 5, 2014Jack and jungle animals spend their time in a tree house overlooking the sea. Using clever things that Jack has built and love story time. With a setting sun, the story continues with new animals in the darkening sky. The stars in the sky appear as the tree house becomes silent and Jack says goodnight to all of the adventure in the tree house.
Engagement Activity requiring higher-level thinking
• Draw a tree with a tree house house and the items you would want to include if you could build any tree house you wanted. Who would you allow in your tree house? Would there be any rules? Where would you want your tree house to be?
Verburg, B., & Teague, M. (2014). The tree house that Jack built. New York: Orchard Books.
Engagement Activity requiring higher-level thinking
• Draw a tree with a tree house house and the items you would want to include if you could build any tree house you wanted. Who would you allow in your tree house? Would there be any rules? Where would you want your tree house to be?
Verburg, B., & Teague, M. (2014). The tree house that Jack built. New York: Orchard Books.
Read
October 1, 2015Summary: This book I would think is for Pre-k to Grade 1. The books gives great imagination of things a boy can make in his tree house. Jack shares his tree house with his many friends he has. Jack also is a very handy boy whose tree house has lots of things made with love. This is a great book for children when learning about rhyming or to do an activity with repeating phrases in a story.
Activity: While reading the story ask the students if they notice anything unusual or out of place. After reading the story talk about things that your students would want in their tree house. Then after having a class discussion give all the children white paper and have them create their own tree house.
Verburg, B., & Teague, M. (2014). The tree house that Jack built. New York, NY: Orchard Book.
Activity: While reading the story ask the students if they notice anything unusual or out of place. After reading the story talk about things that your students would want in their tree house. Then after having a class discussion give all the children white paper and have them create their own tree house.
Verburg, B., & Teague, M. (2014). The tree house that Jack built. New York, NY: Orchard Book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews