The Shrinking of Treehorn - Softcover

Florence Parry Heide; Edward Gorey

4.16

1,276 ratings by Goodreads

9780140307467: The Shrinking of Treehorn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 014030746X ISBN 13: 9780140307467

Publisher: Puffin Books, 1975

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This funny story concerns the boy Treehorn who reads all the time. "Money doesn't grown on trees", says his father. But one day Treehorn notices the leaves on a tree changing into dollar bills. He picks 26 and goes out to spend them on his favourite things.

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Review:

Treehorn is clearly shrinking, and his parents aren't the least bit interested. His mother is obsessed with whether or not her cake will rise. His father, at one point addressing a son who can barely see over the table, states blindly, "Nobody shrinks." Treehorn doesn't seem all that bothered that his clothes are hanging over his extremities; he just feels someone should know. But the adults he tries to notify brush off his claim as either a ploy for attention or downright bad behavior.

Treehorn's parents, his teacher, and his principal respond (or fail to respond) to his drastically diminishing stature in ways that will ring true to any kid who has tried to convince adults of the existence of fairies, the Loch Ness Monster, or things that go bump in the night. Edward Gorey's stark, intricately patterned black-and-white drawings are simultaneously quaint and creepy, setting the perfect stage for Treehorn's tale--a story for any child who has ever felt ignored by grown-ups (in other words, a story for all). (Ages 4 to 8)

About the Author:

Florence Parry Heide (1919 - 2011) was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, later moving to Kenosha, Wisconsin. She began writing children's books in 1967 and published over a dozen. She was the mother of authors Judith Heide Gilliland and Roxanne Heide Pierce.

Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000) was born in chicago and received his B.A. at Harvard. He described his formal art training as "negligible." He was the author and artist of many books for children and adults.

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