Bob lives in the big city but he was not happy. It is too crowed. It is too loud. There are not a lot of trees. However, Bob finds a refuge from New York City in Central Park. Where there are actual trees he can climb and hide in. It is here he builds a series of treehouses that vary in ability as he grows from a child to about twenty-one years old. However, each one of the houses is found and removed. Until the last one that causes him to take a path he never imagined possible.
Based on the true story of Bob Redman, Up in the Leaves: The True Story of the Central Park Treehouses, covers the story of how one man went from a child to a man who worked for the Central Park Department. It was here that he was able to take care of the trees that he loved, here he could hide away from the hustle and bustle of New York.
Shira Boss and Jamey Christoph have created a picture book that touches on many issues children can relate, too. The main, of course, is just being alone when things are a little too much. And while children may not be able to build a tree house, there are other ways to do this. The adult reader will enjoy the themes of science, nature and environment. They will also enjoy the soft, but bright illustrations of Christoph. These images have hidden gems and a glimpse for the reader no familiar with city life, what a birds eye view of it is.
