The Better Tree Fort by Jessica Scott Kerrin

Her picture books include Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki (APALA Award, Governor General’s Literary Award finalist) Away by Emil Sher and A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary (both USBBY Outstanding International Books) When I Found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam (Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award finalist) and I Am Small, which Qin has written and illustrated. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. QIN LENG lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. She lives in downtown Halifax, Canada, and once owned a nutty Springer Spaniel who inspired this book. Jessica Scott Kerrin is the author of the newly launched Lobster Chronicles series and the best-selling Martin Bridge series.

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.ĭescribe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. Qin Leng’s lighthearted watercolor illustrations show the unshakeable bond between a father and son, as well as the delightful details of two tree forts.Ĭorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

In this subtle, humorous story, Jessica Scott Kerrin explores the idea of keeping up with the Joneses - and what that means when you’re a kid with a tree fort. Russell is in awe until it dawns on him that it’s not worth worrying about who has the better tree fort when he has a loving dad there to build one with him.

When Russell goes over to investigate, he meets Warren, whose bigger tree fort has castle turrets and working lights. There is no slide, balcony or skylight like Russell imagined, but it is perfect - right up until he notices another tree fort going up three houses over. Several trips to the lumber store later, the tree fort is done. His dad doesn’t know much about building, but he gamely follows Russell’s plan. “Let’s build a tree fort,” Russell says to his dad when they move into a house with a big maple tree in the backyard. “Together, artist and author affectingly construct The Better Tree Fort that has little to do with its exterior, and everything to do with the love contained within.” - Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW

The Better Tree Fort by Jessica Scott Kerrin