If I Could Climb Trees
Series: Nuggies #5
Written by Jeff Minich
Illustrated by Renan Garcia
Nuggies, Inc.   3/28/17
978-0-9968115-7-6
32 pages    Ages 3—5

.
“A little dog dreams of all the things she would see and the creatures she might meet—if only she could climb trees. If I Could Climb Trees is a whimsical bedtime story that encourages children to explore their imaginations, dream bigger dreams, and see the world through the eyes of others.” [PUBLISHER]

Review
[WC 342]
Coco, a nuggie pup, wonders what life as a different animal would be like. What would she see through a bird’s eyes, taste with a bug’s mouth, or do if she could jump like a squirrel. Coco trying to understand life through the other animals allows Coco to experience empathy, a wonderful ability.
Coco then switches into dream mode, wondering what each of the animals might see when they dream of being like Coco. The bugs enjoys living in Coco’s comfortable house and sleeping in a soft bed. The bird dreams it has Coco’s paws, allowing it to bury its treats—dog bones! The bird seems happy to have a safe place until . . . the squirrel has his dream. The squirrel dreams he has Coco’s powerful nose, able to smell numerous odors. The squirrel smells, and finds, the bird’s treats. Squirrel then digs up the bones, as the miffed bird watches on.
These two dreams are artist Renan Garcia best spreads. Garcia’s cartoonish characters will delight young children. These two spreads are also the only moment close to a conflict in If I Could Climb Trees. If a traditional story is what you want, with a problem needing solved and a main character changing at story’s end, If I Could Climb Trees may not be for you. But, if you are looking for a story about dreaming, using your imagination, and seeing life through another’s eyes, give If I Could Climb Trees a chance. You may find yourself falling in love with an entire pack of nuggies.
This fifth title in the Nuggies series is about seeing life through another’s eyes and dreaming of new experiences. Coco may never climb a tree but he can still dream of seeing clouds in the mountaintops, soft as pillows, from the top of a tree. The point is to keep dreaming. The impossible might prove possible with the right dreams. Kids can do the same through imagination and creativity. Most importantly, children should never stop dreaming and reaching for pillowy clouds.

IF I COULD CLIMB TREES (NUGGIES #5). Text copyright © 2017 by Jeff Minich. Illustrations copyright © 2017 by Renan Garcia. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Nuggies, Inc.

Amazon—Indie Books—Nuggies, Inc.

Add IF I COULD CLIMB TREES to Your Goodreads Shelf HERE.
Add IF I COULD CLIMB TREES: COLORING EDITION to Your Goodreads Shelf HERE.
Teacher’s Apply for a Free Copy of Nuggies #1 and #2 HERE.
Kids! Get Free Coloring Sheets from the Nuggies #5 HERE.
. . Coloring Sheets from Earlier Nuggies Books From #1 HERE, #2 HERE, #3 HERE, and #4 HERE.

.
Illustrations from IF I COULD CLIMB TREES (NUGGIES #5) by Jeff Minich copyright © 2017 by Renan Garcia. Used with permission from Nuggies, Inc..

.
Copyright © 2017 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

.
If I Could Climb Trees
Series: Nuggies #5
Written by Jeff Minich
Illustrated by Renan Garcia
Nuggies, Inc. 3/28/17
9780996811576