“Ted Kooser is an award-winning poet and former US Poet Laureate. I had previously read some of his prose (and quite liked it) so I was eager to read this, his first children’s book. And he does not disappoint! With muted watercolor illustrations to accompany the story, Kooser tells the tale of a family who moves into a new house with a yard devoid of trees. Oh, there are trees on the perimeter of the yard, where the two children love to play and explore. But their father will not have any trees sprouting in his lawn, as he determinedly mows each seeding down as it appears. Eventually the kids grow up and leave, and later so does the father. The house falls to ruin, but the trees! Ah, the trees! A wondrous thing happens over time as the trees begin to embrace and lift up the house. There is probably a metaphor in there somewhere, but I just loved the spare story and the perfect illustrations.”—Sue, Paulina Springs Books, with locations in Sisters and Redmond, OR. Buy House Held Up by Trees from Paulina Springs Books.
Face Out
House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Jon Klassen
April 6, 2012