Laura Sidsworth

The Treehouse Treasury: a Picture Book of Prose & Poems Laura Sidsworth

The Treehouse Treasury is a collection of paintings that are seasonally arranged, starting with a tree that represents the first housing most animals flock to when seeking shelter from the elements. The book portrays various animals as they pursue life's many pleasures...much the same way humans do. The pictures show them as they fish, swim at the lake, enjoy a day at the beach, play at dress-up, build snowmen, bake cookies with their moms, hike, ski, visit Santa, enjoy springtime, Valentine's day, or just the simple ritual of preparing with sleep with a bed-time story. The poems and prose are written in such a way as to capture the very essence and heart of a particular activity, and were written with a purpose of not just describing the scene, but to impart the emotional satisfaction that is derived from spending time, for instance, by a campfire while camping. The poems were written to appeal to the very young that they may begin to understand the activities depicted; for older readers to challenge their reading abilities and create a desire to duplicate the scenarios; and for parents themselves, who are reading to their children, that they are perhaps touched by any memories the pictures/poems may evoke of their own childhoods: of playing in the snow, swimming at the beach, or camping in a forest. The author and artist believe it is a beautiful book families can bond over as they plan their next outings or activities. The artist's work captures the beauty of the outdoors and most of the elements that Mother Nature has to offer. Joni's indoor scenes capture the love and coziness that families can and do enjoy together. We hope the combination of words and art produces excitement and wonderment with all the seasons have to offer, while sparking memories and the desire to create many more!