The Weeping Willow: An Ike and Mem Story [Hardcover]

Grade 2-4-This third book in the series will appeal to readers who are almost ready for full chapter books. Ike and his friend Buzzy want to build a tree house in a willow in an open field but can't seem to agree on any aspect of the project, so they go home angry with one another. Ike then decides to use the supplies to make a playhouse for his younger sister, Mem, without asking Buzzy. Ultimately, he apologizes, and the boys resume their friendship. Alter's drawings, especially of the weeping willow tree, look amateurish; they have a quiet, flat quality that does not reflect the tension in the narrative. Still, Jennings's simple yet realistic story presents situations easily understood by the intended audience, and the characters' dialogue and hurt feelings are adeptly expressed.
JoAnn Jonas, Chula Vista Public Library, San Diego, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2-4. The weeping willow seems the perfect place for a tree house, and Ike and best friend, Buzzy, decide to build one, just for guys. However, all they do is argue, and soon they aren't playing together, let alone speaking. Frustrated and upset, Ike uses the tree-house materials to build little sister Mem a playhouse. But it's not the same without Buzzy, and Ike wonders how to make things right again. This third Ike and Mem story is a realistic, accessible tale of friendship and sibling dynamics. The book is divided into brief sections, not formally identified as chapters; sentences are short, and the vocabulary is simple and descriptive. There are also touches of humor throughout the story as well as a scattering of pen-and-ink art showing the three kids and their activities in the outdoor setting. A well-written, perceptive story with likable characters, this is also about the value of compromise and the rewards of making amends. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The old weeping willow tree looks like the perfect spot for Ike and his best friend, Buzzy, to build a tree house. The space beneath the drooping branches is cook, and hidden, like a secret. But Ike and Buzzy can't agree on anything--on which branch to use for the tree house, one who should be allowed inside. Soon the boys stop speaking to each other. They don't go fishing or play together. Ike's sister, Mem, doesn't understand why they can't be freinds anymore. Can't they just forget the tree house and move on?

Anna Alter is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She illustrated "The Three Little Kittens" and "Estelle and Lucy", which she also wrote. She lives in Massachusetts.

Patrick Jennings is the author of many books for young readers, including the recent BookSense Children's Pick "Out Standing in My Field." His Ike and Mem series was a success with the chapter book crowd, and "Booklist" observed in a starred review, "The writing is all the more telling in its spareness." He lives in Washington State.