Secret Tree Fort

Rebuffed by her older sister, a younger sister unleashes a torrent of increasingly implausible claims regarding her "SECRET TREE FORT." Characters, along with the fantastical figments of the younger sister's imagination, are appealingly rendered in mixed-media illustrations that give a nod to child-made drawings. Similarly, Farley's quirky text embellishments feel genuine and demonstrate a sensitivity for what children value.

Exiled from home by their mother ("It's a beautiful day! Go play outside!"), two sisters find themselves firmly at odds: the older wants to be left alone with her book while the younger desperately wants to play. Rebuffed (with just a withering glance), the younger sister unleashes a torrent of increasingly implausible claims regarding her "SECRET TREE FORT," to which her older sister is pointedly not invited. Meanwhile, and seemingly at the younger sister's creative command, the muted, green-gray outdoor setting transforms into a thrilling imaginary world of polychrome monsters and board-game-playing whales -- complete with candy-encrusted tree fort. The older sister responds phlegmatically ("That doesn't exist"), setting the stage for a spread showing a full-fledged sibling shouting match ("YES IT DOES" "NO IT DOESN'T"). Outmatched and despondent, the younger sister owns up to her fort fib with a tear in her eye, only to be consoled by her newly supportive sister: "Maybe we just need to build it!" Characters, along with the fantastical figments of the younger sister's imagination, are appealingly rendered in mixed-media illustrations that give a nod to child-made drawings. Similarly, Farley's quirky text embellishments ("Inside the fort, there's a marshmallow and chocolate storage compartment...") feel genuine and demonstrate a sensitivity for what children value. This tale of believable sibling rivalry gets a boost from its portrayal of unfettered creativity and an appreciation for the unbelievable. patrick gall