I Wish I Had a Big, Big Tree

Kaoru imagines what he would do if he had a big, big tree, where he could build himself a house and visit the squirrels and birds.

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Kaoru would like a big tree to play in, but his tiny backyard has only small shrubbery. Undaunted, the boy imagines, then draws, his dream tree. At the end, Kaoru and his father do plant a tree, albeit one shorter than Kaoru. Although slender in plot, Sato's original tale provides great detail in the imagining of the tree: squirrel and bird nests, tree house, lookout, etc. Murakami's line and watercolor delightfully capture what a child might picture. Touches of gentle humor inform both text and pictures, as when readers are told that the squirrels always hurry out to greet Kaoru because, "After all, Kaoru is the owner of this tree." The layout changes from horizontal to vertical two-page spreads as Kaoru ascends the tree (presumably to give the impression of height), then reverts to regular horizontal layout inside the tree house and at the end. Unfortunately, this is a bit jarring and does not quite work. Still, this is a fine production overall and could be used as a starting point for creative fantasy projects.
- John Philbrook, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Not since Swiss Family Robinson has there been a treehouse as magnificent as the one Kaoru is planning. In his imagination, several ladders zigzag up a giant tree to the house level and beyond to the lookout platform near the top. Kaoru has rigged a basket and pulley so his younger sister can visit his hideaway and share pancakes with him. No details are spared; clever Kaoru even plans different seasonal uses for his structure. And when he shares his ideas, Kaoru discovers that his father had a similar vision when he was young. Because there are no trees near their house, they plant one. Sato's story is a celebration of the precise ingenuity of young children. This lively fantasy also emphasizes the peaceful coexistence between Kaoru and the other tree dwellers. Animals and bugs abound in the colorful pictures, playfully turned sideways to show the great height of the tree; the endpapers provide a sketchy blueprint for this castle among the leaves. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.