The Branch

July 11, 2016
An ice storm damages trees throughout a girl’s neighborhood, including her favorite branch from the tree in her yard. Still in her pajamas and slippers, she runs outside to survey the scene: “That was the branch I sat on, jumped from, played under,” she mourns. “It was my castle, my spy base, my ship.” Messier (Fatima and the Clementine Thieves) fully inhabits the perspective of her unnamed heroine, drawing readers into her sadness about the loss of a special hangout and her clear-eyed observations of her environment (other neighbors, collecting fallen branches, “carry them to the curb, making big heaps. Like beaver dams in the city”). Pratt (Gustave) captures the wintry setting in rough, forceful brushstrokes and washes of pale blue and cream. Mr. Frank, an elderly neighbor with a workshop, encourages the girl to see the potential in the branch, and with some planning, teamwork, and patience (“We draw plans. We measure. We saw. We saw some more”), they transform it into a rope swing. It’s a gentle reminder that keeping an open mind can help turn problems into opportunities. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from June 1, 2016
Introductory scenes present a young pink-skinned girl with a brown pageboy struggling to fall asleep as she tracks the sights and sounds of the ice storm at her window.A loud crack sends daughter and mother running outside to discover that a beloved branch has splintered off from their tree; she mourns: "It was my castle, my spy base, my ship...." The viewpoint of this endearing child with cropped bangs and expressive body language is effectively reinforced through frequent use of a worm's-eye perspective and first-person narration. Messier's descriptions enrich the strong plot. When the protagonist first gazes upon the neighborhood, she imagines it has been "wrapped in a heavy blanket of diamonds." Unlike her parent, who dismisses the branch's value, an understanding neighbor sees that it is "full of potential": "worth keeping." Mr. Frank allows her to imagine a solution and then helps her realize it. Pratt's skilled brushwork, which ranges from heavy, black outlines to undefined, hazy views, creates a multitude of effects. The silvery lavender/blue frost of winter contrasts with the warm reds of Frank's flannel shirt and workshop. Seasons change as they create plans, saw, sand, and varnish. It is a green world that hosts the transformed wood, still capable of supporting a child's fantasy in its new life as a swing. Brimming with personality and passion, this protagonist is a joy to know. (Picture book. 4-7)

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September 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-When a girl's favorite tree branch breaks and falls during an ice storm, she wants to keep it forever because "it's not just a branch to me!" An elderly neighbor understands that a branch can be worth keeping, and together they combine his tools and expertise along with her elbow grease and imagination to reveal "what's hiding in the wood." The gentle, straightforward tale conveys deeper themes of friendship, hope, and imagination with grace and insight. Readers get to know the girl and her world slowly but steadily through her direct narration and the excellent gouache illustrations. Her words reflect a child's perspective through basic emotions, observant descriptions, and natural dialogue. The deceptively simple illustrations use rich colors to express the general mood and individual characters with equal effectiveness. The pictures provide a tangible feel to the girl's home, her neighborhood, and the workshop, while the human figures draw the eye with strong lines, fluent postures, and splashes of rich color. The girl's creation, shown on the satisfying final page, is a rope swing attached to the same tree, which neatly provides her with a new vehicle for her imagination. VERDICT A quiet but powerful tale supported by a strong blend of words and pictures. Perfect for sharing one-on-one or in a small group.-Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

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