How I Learned to Fall Out of Trees

When Roger's best friend Adelia announces that she is moving away, she softens the blow by telling him that she will teach him how to climb a tree. As she goes about gathering various materials, she gives instructions about each step of the process. As she is leaving, Roger asks her what will

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happen if he falls, to which she replies: "Falling will be easy. Letting go will be the hardest part..."

The third picture-book I have read from author/illustrator Vincent X. Kirsch, following upon his The Two Little Boys from Toolittle Toys and The Chandeliers, this sweet little story addresses one of the common challenges of childhood: parting with a good friend, when one of your must move away. I thought the use of the idea of letting go, in Adelia's instructions about tree-climbing, was inspired, as clearly Roger needs to do just that, not only with the tree, but with his friend as well. The illustrations here, created using a variety of media (watercolor, blank ink, glue, graphite, cut tracing paper), are colorful, engaging, and always expressive. I particularly like the four-panel page in which Roger climbs the tree, which is juxtaposed with a full-page illustration of him sitting upon a high branch. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about saying goodbye to a friend, because they are moving away.

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