Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Butter Man Jeannette Hulick Alalou, Elizabeth The Butter Man; written by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou; illus. by Julie Klear Essakalli. Charlesbridge, 200832p ISBN 978-1-58089-127-1$14.95 R 7-10 yrs Third-grader Kaline Klattermaster marches to his own drummer, which, he has already realized, is what people say "when they mean You Are Weird." Adults' responses to him consist mainly of wearied admonitions to refrain from such unusual activities as randomly tooting an imaginary bugle, while the only peers that seem to pay attention to him are the three oversized classmates who regularly take his school supplies. Luckily, he possesses a thick skin and an abundantly fertile imagination, in which he creates a detailed treehouse refuge staffed by two cool older brothers and their one hundred puppies. Between his imaginary treehouse pals and his conversations with a kind and understanding older neighbor, Kaline is gradually able to cope with the recent departure of his extremely orderly father (Kaline's mother resembles Kaline in her casualness and eccentricity) as well as with the bully situation at school. Kaline has an original voice, and his meandering narrative, accentuated with BURSTS OF CAPITALIZED WORDS, suits his exuberant personality. His longing for his absent father and his worry that he is responsible for his father's leaving are particularly poignant; he constantly strives to straighten all the little "DO NOT WALK ON GRASS" signs that his dad has posted in the yard and checks on his dad's precisely aligned tools in the garage. Brown's occasional illustrations (in what the copyright page describes as "pencil and digital") smoothly provide some needed respite from the intensity of Kaline's narrative, and they helpfully identify the imaginary scenes with a cloud-shaped border. The Kalines of the world need all the help they can get, and this will reassure his like and encourage sympathy in others as well as making a useful and entertaining classroom readaloud choice. Copyright © 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois