3 out of 4 stars
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Imagine a surly neighbor traipsing into your yard, cutting your flowers, and then displaying them on her own kitchen table for all of her friends to see! How rude! Well, this is precisely the type of situation presented to the poor Treebobs in The Treebobs and the Dizzy Broomsticks! Declan Harney introduces readers to yet another charming entry into his heartwarming, 25 story compilation: The Treebobs Series. This British author is a noted conservationist, and his energetic vigilance toward nature preservation is evident in his whimsy outdoor scenes.
Like the other Treebobs stories, The Treebobs and the Dizzy Broomsticks follows the villainous schemes of Rotten Rena, a wicked witch, and this time Badlot Barbara is helping her. The two are cousins who incessantly pester the otherwise well-wishing Treebobs with whom they share a forest. The Treebobs, a small elfish race who live and cavort with resident fairies, including the magical Bindweed Belle, find themselves distraught when they discover Rena and Barbara cutting local trees to make and sell broomsticks! If that weren’t bad enough, the induction of the witches’ broom shop brings even more witches to the forest. This results in noisy and dangerous flight conditions for the smaller creatures attempting to travel.
In the end, the Treebobs, fairies, and woodland creatures band together to hatch and deploy an enchanted plan to upset the broomstick business for good. Lighthearted animal lovers will particularly enjoy these scenes as the small creatures are depicted helping and scurrying about in an adorable Snow-White fashion. The illustrations in this book are particularly standout all around. The bright colors and imaginative backgrounds paint the perfect setting for woodland magic. Any families who are fantasy fanatics will undoubtedly appreciate the detail.
This book doubles as a communication tool for families due to its interactive page at the story’s end. There one finds a list of open-ended questions and activities for audiences of all ages. Questions provoking thoughts about reducing usage and even replanting trees mark exceptional ways to start sustainability conservations with children. It’s clear that Harney finds this a subject that is never too early to broach!
I rated The Treebobs and the Dizzy Broomsticks 3 out of 4 stars. I am a sucker for playful characters, and there is no race more imaginative than the Treebobs! Grammatical errors kept this book from a 4-star review, but the activity page and magical bonus recipe at the end really make this book unique. I suggest this read for any that like to take their time with stories and let their imaginations fly!
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The Treebobs and the Dizzy Broomsticks
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