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My Dad Is a Tree

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My Dad Is a Tree

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$18.99

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Overview

A dad and daughter take pretending to an adorable extreme in this funny book that's perfect for Father's Day.

It’s easy to be a tree. Just pretend your arms are branches, your body is a trunk, and your legs are roots. Don’t move, even if a bird makes a nest on your head, a squirrel hides an acorn in your pocket, and a spider builds a web under your arm. It’s OK: Trees don’t mind those things. Or so says the little girl who persuades her father to be a tree all day long, no matter what, even in the rain!

This silly and sweet picture book will inspire all kinds of imaginative play and is a tribute to parents who will do just about anything for their kids.

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593531372
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	260,443
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jon Agee is the author/illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor winner It's Only Stanley and the ALA Notable Books Little Santa, Terrific, Milo's Hat Trick, and The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau, and a series of popular wordplay books including the IRA-CBC Children's Choice book of palindromes, Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog! Jon grew up along the Hudson River in Nyack, New York, and went to college at the Cooper Union School of Art in New York City, where he studied painting and filmmaking. Now a full-time author, he lives in San Francisco with his wife, Audrey.

From the B&N Reads Blog

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Editorial Reviews

03/13/2023
In this comic dialogue from Agee (Otto: A Palindrama), a child plotting to stay outside “all day long” invites a parent to engage in pretend play—as a tree. In response to young Madeleine’s inducement to “pretend your arms are branches... and then stand in one place. Like this,” Dad obediently spreads his arms wide, “but only for a minute.” A page turn later, Agee’s signature illustrations show a small gray owl landing on Dad’s shoulder. Soon, more birds appear (“A robin is making a nest in your hair!”), and before long, Dad is closer to the outdoors than he had bargained for (“You are a very good tree!”). As the farce builds beyond believable proportions and into moments of hilarity—Dad develops “itches and tickles” from newly resident wildlife, withstands a stuck kite, and stands tall as the weather turns foul—Madeleine sagely proffers reassurances involving trees’ nature: “That’s OK, Dad. Trees don’t mind getting wet.” It’s both a satisfying role-reversal comedy, as Madeleine cheerfully bulldozes hapless Dad, and a quirky meditation on the human capacity for transformation. The characters present as white. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

★ "Recommend to fans of the TV show Bluey, who are familiar with fathers losing themselves in their children’s playscapes. A silly celebration of play, imagination, and devoted fathers." —School LIbrary Journal, starred review

"Dad’s the straight man here, and Agee is unafraid to have him deadpan a look right at viewers when situations become particularly wacky. Accompanied by textured, collagelike visuals, this is an amusing little ode to the extent to which dads sometimes go above and beyond . . . A fun paean to fathers willing to go the extra mile for their nature-loving kids." —Kirkus

"Both a satisfying role-reversal comedy, as Madeleine cheerfully bulldozes hapless Dad, and a quirky meditation on the human capacity for transformation." —Publishers Weekly

"Agee illustrates the story in beautifully simple strokes, employing his trademark style through a softly bright color palette . . . Kids will be tickled by the playful premise and the control exerted by the child over the parent. A fun, funny lap read—but dads beware." —Booklist

"Agee keeps the compositions and dialogue uncluttered and unfussy, and children will delight in the visual hyperbole—the growing number of creatures who pile on Dad. This entertaining story expresses what children know so well: playing outside can be filled with surprises." —Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 05/26/2023
PreS-Gr 1—While her dad completes some yard work, Madeleine stands still, arms outstretched, pretending to be a tree. "Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!" Madeleine gets her dad to join in and the neighborhood wildlife clearly finds Dad's act convincing. He soon finds himself host to a growing menagerie of birds, itchy insects, and even an industrious squirrel. Madeleine repeatedly informs him that trees aren't bothered by any of these things, but after a kite to the face and pouring rain it is clear Dad's patience is wearing thin. It is not until the dark of night falls that Dad finally insists to Madeleine that they are not trees. She happily agrees, sharing a smile with her father to celebrate an entire day spent outdoors. This is a humorous story infused with a simple joy and a few wry winks to adults. The text is entirely dialogue, without any word bubbles or dialogue tags. The placement of the words and context clues make it clear which character is speaking. Their banter is enhanced by Agee's trademark witty illustrations. The charm of this story is how entirely absorbed Dad becomes in his child's play. Even though he is clearly annoyed by some of the aspects of nature he endures, he never once breaks the conceit of their game. The impact of this child-centered behavior is evident on Madeleine's constantly smiling face and will likely lead to smiles on readers' faces as well. Recommend to fans of the TV show Bluey, who are familiar with fathers losing themselves in their children's playscapes. VERDICT A silly celebration of play, imagination, and devoted fathers that would enhance a Father's Day program or display. Recommended for first purchase.—Elizabeth Lovsin

School Library Journal

2023-03-14
Dendrophilia is the name of the game in this tale of a patriarch emulating his leafy neighbors.
When Dad finds Madeleine imitating a tree, he asks why. “Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!” the child explains. After Madeleine begs Dad to join in, he acquiesces, but “only for a minute!” Trouble is, Dad is a particularly convincing tree. First a baby owl falls asleep on his shoulder, and then a robin makes a nest in his hair. Soon Dad is covered in animals, getting hit by kites, becoming soaked in the rain, and standing outside in the dark. Each provocation, however, is met with Madeleine’s assurance that trees don’t mind these trivialities. And when it’s time to go inside, the child agrees, “We definitely are not trees. But that’s OK.” After all, they got to be outside all day! Agee eschews his usual penchant for peculiarities with this sweet tale. Dad’s the straight man here, and Agee is unafraid to have him deadpan a look right at viewers when situations become particularly wacky. Accompanied by textured, collagelike visuals, this is an amusing little ode to the extent to which dads sometimes go above and beyond. Madeleine and Dad are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fun paean to fathers willing to go the extra mile for their nature-loving kids. (Picture book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews

My Dad Is a Tree

My Dad Is a Tree

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