Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Two supportive moms help a child narrator fulfill their wish for a tree house in this encouraging tale about achieving dreams. In rhyming lines, Peter details the process step-by-step, from selecting a location to creating a design to purchasing construction supplies. At each turn, white-presenting Mommy and brown-skinned Mom assist, comforting the child after an accident at the store and acrobatically helping to install the roof. Minor mishaps occasionally disrupt the trio's progress, but the work continues until, at last, first-person narration declares: "Yes! I can see the whole wide world./ A prince within his tree!/ The perfect palace in the clouds/ for all my friends and me." Applying sprays of color to architectural spreads, Evans's warm digital renderings showcase the loving relationship between parents and child. Celebratory concluding scenes in the cozy fort successfully emphasize the value of family support in making dreams come true. Ages 4--9. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--A brown-skinned child undertakes a big building project with his moms: "Some children wish for telescopes, or skateboards, or a mouse./ But there's just one thing that I want, my very own…/ Treehouse!" Both moms drop everything to help pick the best tree in the yard, shop for supplies, build, paint, and play. An ABCB rhyming structure propels the story forward. The rhyme bounces mostly in a satisfying rhythm with a few clunky moments. Light conflict, including spilled paint and a snapped two-by-four at the hardware store, joins a story otherwise free of trouble. The strength of this title depends on its colorful, dynamic digital illustrations and its multiracial LGBTQIA+ representation. VERDICT This sweet, rhyming STEAM story is a pleasing read. Recommended as an additional purchase.--Allison Staley
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A boy and his moms build a treehouse. The unnamed young protagonist wants a treehouse so he can pretend it's "a secret space base on the moon. / A castle just for me!" His agreeable moms plan it out, help the boy find the right tree on what must be a remarkably large piece of property, shop for materials, and build it. There's no tension propelling this slice-of-life story forward. All the gentle moments of conflict--the child breaking a piece of wood at the store, the weather being uncooperative, the protagonist's friends having to go home after a long play date--are easily resolved, and there's no identifiable question or climax at the heart. This plodding tale is written in occasionally wrenched ABCB rhyme. The uneven rhythm and rhyming words give the narrative a repetitive, constrained quality. The brown-skinned child matches one of his moms in skin tone, while the other mom is light-skinned. Those in search of a straightforwardly wholesome example of a kid having an ordinary adventure with his two moms will find it here; those seeking a compelling read-aloud will have to look elsewhere. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Sweet but lacking. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
