The great thing about books is that there is something for everyone. And Everything You Need for a Treehouse is one of those books. I was not the audience for Carter Higgins book (it was too sugary for me) but that is fine. I know several people that can appreciate this poetic story of nature and the magic of it, the magic of reading, the magic of imagination, the magic around us and of course, the magic of treehouses (which fosters that magic). What I was a fan of was Emily Hughes’ illustrations. They are not simplistic, but the detail of the simplicity was greatly enjoyed.
In many ways, the treehouses themselves are “over the top” with the space they provide and the way they allow the creativity of the characters imagination. They hold immense treasures, allow for friendships to find a place to grow and just the overall fun of them. Of course, the image that stood out/stands out for me is the fact there are BOOOKS all over one of the pages, with the shelves nestled into the tree holding thousands and thousands of books (okay, several dozens) to read. Articulate (yes, I used a thesaurus to find that word and it totally fits) illustrations speak with you. The illustrations are separate and complimentary at the same time to the text.
The narrator speaks to you the reader (best ages 5 and up for listening too, and probably that 7-9 reader as it is in a picture book format) clearly but lyrically. A slightly longer picture book, it might be good for a classroom setting or for the child that can sit for an extended amount of time.