The 13-Story Treehouse

Starred review from February 11, 2013
Longtime collaborators Griffiths and Denton (Killer Koalas from Outer Space) get metafictional in their latest book (first published in Australia), and the result is anarchic absurdity at its best. Young buddies Andy and Terry live together in the sort of tree house that kids dream about, complete with bowling alley, shark tank, vines to swing from, and underground laboratory. With so many distractions, is it any wonder that they’re late with the book due to their publisher, Mr. Big Nose? “We were a little behind schedule,” confides Andy. “Well, when I say ‘a little behind schedule,’ I mean a lot behind schedule. And when I say ‘a lot behind schedule,’ I mean a LOT LOT LOT behind schedule.” It’s due tomorrow, but before they can get to work, they have to handle an escaped catnary (a cat turned canary), “burp-gas-filled bubblegum bubbles,” and a horde of destructive monkeys. Denton’s manic cartooning captures every twist and turn in hilarious detail, as babies are pelted with garbage, yapping dogs squashed, and monkeys catapulted into the distance. A sequel was published last year in Australia and can’t arrive soon enough. Ages 8–12.

May 1, 2013

Gr 3-5-Andy and Terry live in a treehouse. In addition to the normal rooms found in a house, it has a theater and library, a bowling alley, and a games room. The boys write and illustrate books, and are far behind on their deadline for their publisher, Mr. Big Nose. They bicker and procrastinate and experience many adventures and misadventures. Wacky stories about flying cats, a monster mermaid, a treehouse full of monkeys, and a banana-seeking giant gorilla will entertain and delight readers. Fun cartoons on every page will engage them and inspire giggles. The situations are described and illustrated so completely that readers will be instantly transported to the fantastic world of the 13-story treehouse. Fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"(Abrams) and Lincoln Peirce's "Big Nate" series (HarperCollins) will be drawn to this book, while parents will enjoy the absence of snarky humor.-Erica Thorsen Payne, Meriwether Lewis Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2013
Grades 3-5 In this series starter that will appeal to fans of Jeff Kinney and Dav Pilkey, a young author-illustrator pair discover that a single day of life in their gigantic tree house provides enough material for a manuscript to satisfy their publisher, Mr. Big Nose. Episodes involving a giant banana attack, a sea monster masquerading as a mermaid, burp-filled bubblegum bubbles, a threatening gorilla, and 13 ferocious flying cats are described in bites of text plentifully seasoned with Denton's scribbly, busy black-and-white cartoons, which vary from full page to spot to other rascally configurations that spill from the page. The wonderfully random slapstick humor is tailor-made for reluctant readers. Even better, each short chapter stands alone, though the whole story hangs together thanks to repeating motifs. A treat for all with a sequel promised for next year. And guess what? It makes for good tree house reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Inhabiting an amazing thirteen-story tree house with a bowling alley, shark tank, and underground laboratory, best friends and young authors Andy and Terry use the wild adventures that take place in their dwelling as fodder for their manuscript, which is overdue to their publisher. Comical illustrations pair perfectly with humorous text to make this Australian import a winner.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)