Secret Tree Fort

by Brianne Farley

Even a bookish big sister is drawn in by the promise of her imaginative sibling’s spectacular hideaway.

I have a secret tree fort, and YOU’RE NOT INVITED!

When two sisters are ushered outside to play, one sits under a tree with a book while the other regales her with descriptions of a cool fort in a tree that grows ever more fantastical in the telling. What will it take to get the older sister to look up? The promise of a water-balloon launcher in case of attack? A trapdoor to stargaze through? A crow’s nest from which to see how many whales pass by or to watch for pirates? Or the best part of all, which can’t be revealed, because it’s a secret?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Kids, Friendship, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Brianne Farley is an author and illustrator of picture books. Her debut, Ike's Incredible Ink, was awarded the Marion Vannett Ridgway Book Award Honor for debut authors and was selected for the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. She also illustrates the picture book series Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros, which was a Portland Best Book, a Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, and was on the LITA Notable List. Brianne received her MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design; she now lives in Traverse City, Michigan.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captures that sibling relationship perfectly that so many of us recall. I love how imagination soars and soars and never stops dreaming. And then a bump in the road, but just a small one, as we're off again on a journey to something awesome. Cause after all imagination x 2 can only lead to bigger and better!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl just wants to read her book in peace. (What's wrong with that, I ask you?)
BUT . . . her sister's wild imagination may prove to offer a more interesting story.
(All right - I guess it's okay to get your nose out of a book every now and then.)

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

That voice! Those illustrations! The big sister/little sister dynamic. All so good.

[Pernille Ripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to any classroom library, fantastic inspiration for imagination!

[Ana Calabresi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely! Pesky little sisters, the power of imagination.

[Michaela · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover is so cute, I can see why my littles grabbed it at the library. But stinky attitude siblings just don't make a cute story to match the cover😬

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY COW. THIS BOOK IS PERFECTLY TAILORED TO MY READ-ALOUD STYLE! I can't quite explain it, but it's so totally perfect for me to use in a class visit. I don't know how well it would work for other people, but it's SO PERFECT for me.

Ok, rational thoughts. I love the sketchy illustrations and the big sister/little sister dynamic. I'm also a big sucker for tree houses and homemade forts of all sorts.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECRET TREE FORT
Written and Illustrated Brianne Farley
2016; 32 Pages
Candlewick Press
Genre: children's, picture book, adventure, imagination

5 STARS

When two sisters were sent outside to play one finds a nice tree to read under. While the other sister wants to play with her sister. When her sister does not pay any attention she starts to imagine an awesome secret tree fort and telling her every detail. Will her sister notice her? LOVED the illustrations. It reminded me of picture books from my own childhood. A cute funny story I would recommend to anyone! (Ages 3-6)

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! The first pages definitely remind me of me and my own sister..... And, it's dedicated to "my favorite sister." This book is cute, clever, and imaginative - a little Where the Wild Things Are meets Bink and Mollie. And, unlike what really happened with my own sister, it has a wonderful, perfect ending. Great picture book.

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters are sent outside by their mother on a lovely day. The older one wants to read, and the younger wants to play. How to convince her sister to cooperate? The younger begins a plot to make her sister jealous, talking about her fantastical tree fort that is so out of this world, her sister will have to play with her. The best part? It's MADE OF CANDY!!!

[Lesley Burnap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters. Imagination. Forts. Books. ☺️

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and the imagination of the little girl.

[Shiloah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. Simple storyline.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an outside play date for two girls, but sadly, one doesn't want to go. While the older sister reads, the younger sister tries to entice her to play by building up an "real" tree fort part by part. Her imagination grows wilder with every page, filling it with more creatures, flags, and levels. Despite her enthusiasm for this "secret" fort, she fails to draw in her sister until the very end, when they argue, and makeup. It's a sweet resolution to a story about a "pestering" little sister. Imaginary creations are easily defined by their colour linework and intense hues. Everything real on the other hand has a less saturated palette, and, the girls have black lineart. The little sister almost exclusively speaks throughout the whole book, infectiously describing the things from her imagination. Many of the illustrations add further details that can be pointed out. Overall, it is a secret fort that many would envy, and with the nice message about getting along with siblings, it is a fun and charming read.

[FM Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3.5 year old loved this one and so did I. It's a relatable story of a kid pestering her big sister to play and then trying to make her jealous with a fantastical story of her wonderful tree house. Which doesn't exist, but by the end of it you are wishing along with her that it did. I think the experience both of bugging someone to play with you and of designing an imaginary space all your own really appealed to my kid. Would love to read more like this from the team, but it doesn't seem like any of their other stories are similar. Has a great comic book style that reminds me of The Hike and the Camping Trip. Also if you love this one and are looking for other tree fort books, check out Everything You Need for a Treehouse - similar fantastical element, though a very different vibe.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story highlighting how friend or sibling relationships can sometimes be weakened but can always be fixed if wanted. Many children would probably relate to the experiences in the book of one child feeling lonely and wanting the other to play. When the other doesn’t want to they try persuading them by making up stories. Children could use persuasive devices they know to write their own persuasions for the girl who doesn’t want to play. A nice book for year 1-3 children. Children could look at the colours used for the imagination and try to spot the pattern and think about why the illustrator did this. They could write their own descriptions of their dream tree house.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully imaginative, celebrates the big sister/little sister dynamic. Plenty of to be examined in the illustrations, which really are necessary to get the full story. Reading the text alone, the reader will lose so much. Great use of color, varying from dull to bright and full spreads of color, to small vignettes on white background. Emotion is very well conveyed.
This book reminded me of my two daughters when they were young. :)
Definitely one to know about and share.

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this right after finishing Where the Wild Things Are, and it made me feel like the author might have been a little inspired by that book. The story follows an older sister trying to quietly read while her younger sister imagines having a tree fort filled with all sorts of amazing things. It’s a simple story, but it does a nice job showing how easily kids can turn an ordinary moment into something imaginative.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced outside to play by Mom, and a sister who wants to read instead of play, one little girl must use her imagination to build a secret tree fort that gets more and more elaborate.
•
This is childhood! This story will capture the imaginations of young and old readers alike. My mind worked just like the little girl's when I was young.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One sister wants to read, and the other wants to play. The one who wants to play dreams up an elaborate, enticing tree fort (with a view of the ocean and an underwater section and a lot of candy), and after fighting about whether it's real, the sisters work together to plan the fort out.

Feels like a very realistic interaction with a lot of imagination and things to notice in many of the pages.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would I like this more if I had a sister? I think that I understand the appeal, and I guess the theme is nice, but I dunno if I could be as forgiving as the big sister is. And I do not like the way the girls are drawn at all.

For the Treehouses, Forts and Playhouses theme in Children's Books group.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When sisters are asked to play outside, one wants to read and the other play. In order to entice her sister to stop reading and play with her she makes up exaggerated stories about her fictitious tree fort.

This text felt choppy, and the illustrations didn't impress me. Good idea though.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two children are sent outside to play. One is trying to read, the other wants her sister to play, so she uses her imagination to make her sister want to play with her. A secret tree fort becomes the main interest.

Fun story with great illustrations.

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story perfectly captures the dynamic younger siblings know all too well. I love how the story builds both through words and illustrations as the younger sister's imagination dreams bigger and bigger dreams.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playful, interesting illustrations. I have four daughters and can relate to the little ones trying to get the attention of the reading big sister. I read it to my 4yo and she was immediately inspired to draw tree forts!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

An older sister who wants to read and a younger one who wants to play.
The younger one decides to entice the older with an incredible tree fort.
Things devolve into a screaming match, but they end up working together to make imagination reality.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this, but I have to confess that this story rings so true for my lived experience. These two little girls could absolutely and without a doubt be my kids. The bookworm and the one with boundless energy and imagination. So sweet how it rolls out too.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one girl was so obnoxious for the vast majority of the story, constantly telling her sister she wouldn't tell her anything about her secret tree fort, but then proceeding to tell her anyway. I liked some of the artwork, and I liked the older sister in the end being gracious.

[Julia D'ambrosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book existed when I was a kid I’m sure I’d have read it 1000 times. It describes the dream. The perfect tree house. It also captures being the little sibling very well. It has delightful pictures and is fun to read aloud.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl tries to capture her older sister's attention with increasingly tall tales. Wonderfully portrays the dynamics between older/younger sisters.