1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up discussion
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Up in the Tree
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February 2016: Up In the Tree
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Thanks for setting the thread up Tiffany. How are people going getting a copy of the book, I have mine ready to read, but I won't start the discussion just yet.
I haven't found either of February's books. Haven't looked at buying them, or ordering them through ILL.
I have my copy ready to go :)
I'm happy to post a booktube video like I did with Barbapapa if people are having trouble finding it.
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Ooh, that was fun last time! I'd join the discussion if you posted another video :)
I'm hoping to film a reading and have it up tonight/tomorrow.
I finally found my camera so I could film a reading. It's a little dark, but here it is: https://youtu.be/hvRO7K5APzkWhat did you think about it? I liked the colour scheme and the illustrations. I wish I'd filmed the author note on the inside.
Margaret explains that this was produced in the early days of kids publishing in Canada. There was only two colours because more would be too costly, she hand lettered the book for the same reasons. It's very simply drawn, but I feel like that is part of it's charm.
I think the story is fun, but it is a little jilted because only parts of it are rhyming. I think kids would like the idea of living in a tree and it could be fun to dream up ways of getting up and down the tree. I really want to know why the (Otters? Wombats?) took the ladder and then buried it?!?! Why dudes, why? I didn't love it, it was a fun, silly read.
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I couldn't watch the video. YouTube tells me it's private :(
Tiffany wrote: "Cataluna6 wrote: "I finally found my camera so I could film a reading. It's a little dark, but here it is: https://youtu.be/hvRO7K5APzk"I couldn't watch the video. YouTube tells me it's private :("
I've changed it, hopefully you can view it now.
Mod
Very cute. Thanks for recording this one for us!
I loved the colors scheme and the illustrations. They're very simple, but charming, like you said. And the colors are plain/muted enough that they feel comfortable and inviting, not bold and neon and in your face.
I liked the rhyme. I don't know why so many authors feel the need to make kids' books rhyme, but they do, and I like ones like this where the pattern and rhythm aren't obvious. It's not "The cat sat on the hat" or "Roses are red, violets are blue" types of rhymes. There were a couple of times where the rhythm changed slightly (and you did a wonderful job of reading!), which I liked. It makes the story seem less mundane and expected -- it adds to the "What's going to happen?" feeling when you don't even know what rhythm the story's going to take, in addition to not knowing what's going to happen with the plot.
And yeah, what were those things that stole the ladder? Beavers? (At first they reminded me of the Lorax!)
Tiffany wrote: "Cataluna6 wrote: "I've changed it, hopefully you can view it now."Very cute. Thanks for recording this one for us!
I loved the colors scheme and the illustrations. They're very simple, but charm..."
Thank you :) I didn't think of that (the rhyming giving a sense of the unexpected).
I felt the same way - I thought it was a cute, fun read and would be great thinking about living in a tree but I didn't love it.
Thanks for recording it too!
Heather wrote: "I felt the same way - I thought it was a cute, fun read and would be great thinking about living in a tree but I didn't love it."I was almost going to buy a copy, but I'm glad I didn't, it's not a story that I'd revisit often.
Cataluna6 will be your discussion leader, and, as always, you don't need to read this exact edition to join the discussion.
Happy reading!