Why I Picked It Up: Continuing the quest for high interest reads for 3-5 grade students, 13-Story Treehouse looked like a strong option. It came with a recommendation from all three of the Rogers boys, so I requested it from the library, sight unseen. I was not disappointed. When I picked it up from the library, the cover made me feel quite justified in my choice. It’s the treehouse of my dreams! When I was younger, I used to use my brothers’ legos to build giant houses that had many of the same features as the 13-story treehouse – a library, a bowling alley, a swimming pool. Even without that experience in my past, the idea of such an extravagant treehouse definitely drew me in. Also, I did a quick google search and found this picture of the authors, which sealed the deal.
Why I Finished It: It was an enjoyable read. The illustrations were very detailed, and I really enjoyed the world of the treehouse. However, I’m not the intended audience for this book. It’s reminiscent of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate, which are definitely not traditionally “me” books. It was a bit of a challenge to read through to the end because I’m so used to reading tons of YA novels with really complex plots and characters. Really, I just had to look more closely to find reasons to like this book, because there are plenty. I did really appreciate the interaction of the pictures and the text, and as the story unfolded, I actually began to identify with Andy and Terry more and more. They are trying to write a book, and even with a deadline and a publisher breathing down their necks, they seem to be able to find all sorts of other, fanstastical things to do instead. Totally me! My house is never cleaner than when I have something really important to do or a blog post to write!
The author and illustrator are Australian, so there are a few references that might catch students off guard, but nothing too difficult (“postman” “parcel”). There is also a reference to Jimi Hendrix, and regardless of what country you are from, your students will probably need some background knowledge for that one!
Who I Would Give It To: As mentioned earlier, fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate will enjoy this series. Upper elementary and middle school kids, boys especially, come to mind when I see this book. It’s a great book to engage reluctant readers, or even prompt reluctant writers.
Integration Ideas
Theme/Guiding Questions
Relationships – What are the elements that build a strong friendship?
Literature and Art
- What role does art (in this case literature/books) play in our society?
- What is creativity and why is it important in our culture?
- What influences an author to create?
Reading – Plot/Summary
The chapters in this book are short (great for short attention spans!), but most of the chapters also contain a complete story arc (beginning, middle, end) within just a few pages. This is great for looking at plot and practicing summarization (3-5 grade). After reading the story for enjoyment, have students pick just one chapter to analyze as a complete story. Have them sequence and summarize the main events of the chapter. Be sure to remind the students that the pictures are also part of the text, and make sure they look through the illustrations to see if they contain any information that should be included in the summary.
Andy points out to Terry towards the end of the book (p 197) that if Terry “hadn’t sent away for sea-monkeys or fooled around with giant bananas in the first place, none of this would ever have happened!” After creating a summary, students can talk about how their chapter influenced future events in the book. Even though each chapter stands alone as a story, they are all interwoven and there is definitely some foreshadowing that can be discussed.
Writing – Setting, Generating Ideas
The events in this story are incredibly imaginative! From giant gorillas seeking more giant bananas to “catnaries” that save the day, it is amazing! And the setting in which they take place seems to fuel the adventures of the authors. Have students spend some time looking at the map of the treehouse on pages 6-7. Then, encourage them to think about their own perfect place. Would it be a treehouse? Would it be a castle? Maybe a sand castle? Maybe a magic tent with 100s of rooms? Maybe a flying mansion? What kinds of rooms and features would they have in their perfect house? Bowling alley? Arcade? Let their imaginations soar and have them sketch out their perfect place in their notebooks.
Each room in the house is a seed idea for a story, so have students choose a room and write a story that takes place in that room. They might need to use two rooms, but encourage them to maintain a focus in their writing by using no more than two. The details of the setting will be easy to incorporate!
Technology Integration
Terry and Andy seem to be lacking motivation to write their book. Design a motivational poster to help them get to work! What do you think would motivate them? Since one is a writer and one is an illustrator, use words AND a picture to create the perfect poster that would motivate both characters. Choose something from the book (use text evidence), or think about what you know about the characters and think about something from outside the book to create your poster.
Use Motivator (from Big Huge Labs) to create your own motivational poster.
This book became a well loved well worn copy in my room… Love it!
I just love it.I can’t stop reading it,it is so good it’s full of towering fun I wish I lived in that treehouse.😂😂😂
That would be fun! And now there are so many Treehouse books. I think we have about 5 of them.