That Neighbor Kid

PreS-Gr 2--The illustrations tell the story in this subtle, heartwarming, nearly wordless picture book. The tale opens with a moving van parked in front of a house, and readers see a boy sitting beneath a huge tree in his new yard, engrossed in a book called Living in Trees. His neighbor, a girl, timidly watches him, first through a window, then peering over the fence that separates their two yards. When the boy dismantles a piece of the fence and uses the wood to begin building a tree house, the girl takes advantage of the opening (both literal and figurative) to climb up after him and help. As in his lovely wordless picture book Float, Miyares's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations rely primarily on a soft gray palette that quietly focuses the eye on the characters and their actions and expressions. As construction of the tree house progresses, the tree's foliage and surroundings take on color, including a brilliant yellow sky that complements the children's joy at completing their project together. From the beautifully constructed spreads to the perfect pacing and satisfying conclusion, this simple story of new friendship and joint accomplishment is a pleasure. VERDICT Highly recommended for all picture book collections.--Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

A girl with long braids and a neatly pressed jumper peeps over a fence at a boy who's hanging upside down from an oak tree branch, reading a book. She keeps watching as he removes boards from the fence and climbs the tree with lumber, hammer, and nails. Timidly, she climbs up after him; he's struggling with a set of plans. "Hi," she says. "Hi," he replies. The plans make sense to her, they set to work, and the pale gray paintings take on color as the tree's leaves turn orange and gold. The two flick their brushes at each other as they paint; at night, their bedroom windows shine golden yellow, a completed tree house standing proudly between them. Several messages surface in Miyares's (Bring Me a Rock!) nearly wordless story: two heads are better than one, quiet people who hang back often have hidden gifts, and making things together can build lasting friendships. Miyares sets this sensitively crafted tale in a nostalgic past when children's lives were less scheduled and supervised; like the tree house, it's a good place to escape to. Up to age 5. Agency: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (May)