We Are Up a Tree!

July 1, 2024
Dog and Pony return for a second act; Dog quickly gets in a pickle. Pony wraps a scarf around Dog and grabs an umbrella, and the two of them set out for a walk as snow begins to fall. Then Dog sees a tree and, with some help from Pony, climbs to the lowest limb. Dog's pride ("Look at me! I did it!") is deflated by the difficulty of descending. The scarf becomes a rescue rope, but Dog is inadvertently boomeranged up to an even higher branch. Pony suggests using the umbrella to float back down, but the wind catches it and lifts Dog to the treetop. Pony climbs up after Dog but slips; Dog pulls Pony to safety. Now they're both stuck in the tree! Dog's solution? They should live here. Pony objects reasonably. While Pony frets, Dog notices that the snowpack has reached the tree's level. They slide away happily, but has Dog learned a lesson? Of course not! The animals are anthropomorphized in terms of behavior but not in shape; the simple forms (tree, umbrella) stand out against a flat background, and the typeface is large. The text is simple enough for newcomers to graphic fiction, but the interplay between impulsive Dog and cautious Pony will have them chuckling. The book begins with a helpful guide to reading a graphic work that explains speech and thought bubbles, panels, and the order in which to follow them. A hilariously preposterous situation that will delight comics newbies. (Graphic early reader. 4-6)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2024
In this graphic novel for new readers, boisterous Dog is determined to climb a tree. Calm friend Pony helps Dog up, but then how will Dog get down again? Amusing attempts ensue, ending in both characters stuck in the tree. They are saved when snow begins to fall�? enough to let them simply slide down a snowdrift ("Down got up!"). Simple, color-coded dialogue balloons aid in readability (as does the opening "How to Read This Book" spread), while strong comics-style images ably convey action and personality.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)