The Tree House

Sprog (unfortunate name) is four, brother William is seven; their family’s new house has a grand, spreading chestnut tree at the bottom of the garden. Dad builds a tree house and then leaves to work abroad, but at intervals sends home such treasures as torches, toffees, binoculars and an umbrella. These everyday objects are transformed by Sprog and William into magical treasures which lead them to act out fantastical battles between the tree house and their bedroom. A background figure in the narrative, Mam lovingly indulges their games.

The seven sharply crafted chapters capture the brothers’ warm innocence amid loving family relationships; their growth as young writers is also charted in a series of disarmingly moving letters to their absent dad. I would spoil it to describe the father’s dramatic Christmas Eve return to the house – read this one with a group of eight-year-olds to find out.