Review by Booklist Review
Maya imagines a wonderful tree fort and draws up a plan to build it. Choosing the perfect site in the woods, she sets to work, but she needs help! Maya recruits some friendly beavers to chomp off big tree limbs, which a passing moose happily hauls to the site. Maya courteously enlists the aid of several bears to set the branches in place, and squirrels and birds help secure the structure. A powerful storm sends everyone scurrying home. Watching the rain, Maya fears that her fort is ruined, but when she returns the next morning, the magnificent structure is still standing, resplendent in the sunlight, and full of her new animal friends. Gilbert's carefully worded text and expressive digital artwork dovetail, making the storytelling strong and emphasizing Maya's most endearing traits: she doesn't just long for a tree house, she researches the topic, comes up with a detailed plan, tries to carry it out on her own, and politely asks others for help. An inspirational picture book for turning dreams into reality.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Inspired by animals' cozy forest homes, a child called Maya carefully plans to construct a tree fort of her own. Gilbert (A Couch for Llama) draws Maya with a perfectly round head, light skin and dark braids, a plaid shirt, and an eager look. But when she hikes into the forest and starts to build, she can't seem to fashion the branches into a structure. "What if I just can't do it? she wondered." So she approaches some beavers--creatures she knows have experience with trees. They're happy to help, as are a moose and a bear family she appeals to. "We're building the most beautiful and unique tree fort in the world!" she says to some birds. "Will you help us?" Foul weather represents a single tense moment before Maya can enjoy the dazzling tree fort she's built alongside the community that helped her do it. Polished digital artwork portrays the animals and the forest in stylized, easy-to-recognize forms accented by golden light. Though the animals lack individuating characteristics, lessons about persistence and teamwork are clear as Maya and friends exemplify cheerful energy, cooperation, and focus. Ages 3--6. Agent: Clelia Gore, Martin Literary. (July)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Maya, a devoted nature lover, plans to build the perfect tree fort all by herself. She wants an "incredible and wonderful" place where she can play and read. She researches ideas, makes carefully detailed plans, and sets off to find just the right spot in the forest. First she must gather and move large branches, but in spite of much pushing and lifting, she just can't cope. There is a brief moment of despair, and then her determination kicks in. She applies for help from the beavers, who provide a large pile of wood. It needs to be moved, so she asks some moose, who gladly accommodate. Other appropriate animals join the team, bears for lifting and framing, and birds for weaving the branches together. A rain delay causes fears for the safety of the fort, but in the end it is perfect, especially when her animal friends join her in that special place. Gilbert's syntax is direct and perfectly captures Maya's bright intelligence, creativity, and enthusiasm. The text is scattered throughout well-paced vignettes and spreads. Maya's descriptions of her envisioned fort and its completed reality stand out from the rest of the text in large hand-brushed display lettering. The lustrous illustrations have a beautiful sense of light, depicting the forest in both sunlight and rain. The animals display a great deal of personality. Maya, who has pale skin and straight, black hair in pigtails, is a strong, independent female and a complete charmer. Perfectly lovely. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
