My 11-year-old came up with this challenge to design the best treehouse ever after reading Lisa Graff’s Book, The Great Treehouse War. Check out the treehouses my kids designed, and Emma’s review of the book.
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Design a Treehouse Challenge for Kids
What You'll Find on This Page
My bookworm daughter Emma designed her dream treehouse after reading Lisa Graff’s The Great Treehouse War (disclosure: we received a review copy of the book). She really liked the book (check out her review below), and it inspired her to design quite the treehouse!
I am especially fond of the robot bird to ride in, as well as the ski lift to go back and forth between her house. Emma went VERY high tech for her house – although I really don’t see how that bird could be remotely aerodynamic.
My son Johnny also designed a treehouse using legos. There is a lot going on at his treehouse!
I love that Emma’s treehouse is the ideal author’s retreat (her dream career), while Johnny’s treehouse isn’t actually necessarily somewhere he would choose to live, but instead a scene for all sorts of incredible adventures.
If your kids enjoy this activity, we recommend designing your dream house as a follow-up activity.
Emma’s Review of The Great Treehouse War
The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff is an amazing book. It is about a girl named Winnie whose parents got divorced. She spends exactly equal time with each of them, but soon both her parents start making crazy celebrations for strange holidays. The only day that Winnie has peace is on Wednesday, because on Wednesdays she lives in her treehouse. But Winnie can’t live like this anymore. She lives up in her treehouse, which is a piece of a country, and she refuses to come down. What will make her come down? This book is fascinating, and I love Winnie’s treehouse and her relationship with her friends. It has a lot about family and friendship.
Win a Copy of The Great Treehouse War
If you were to design the best treehouse ever, what would it look like? Please share in the comments below, or on my Facebook page. You can also tag me on Instagram.
MaryAnne lives is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I have always wanted an awesome treehouse. Jeff is aware of this and every time he sees a video about someone building a cool treehouse he makes sure to show me it.
I did a similar activity with the kids back when they were in preschool to design their perfect house (like your follow-on activity you linked to). I wonder what they would say now.
Perfect #STEM summer project!
This is a wonderful idea for a summer project. I always wanted a proper one as a girl :-)
Amalia
xo
I had one when I was small, and it was amazing! I would love for my kids to have one, someday.
The treehouse drawing and lego treehouse are awesome! Very creative and I’d love a treehouse with a ski lift to take me up inside.
I want a ski lift for my house!
Ooh, A loved other books by Lisa Graaf! I will make sure to look for this one. Both tree houses are very creative. I love the ski lift to the house :)
I thought that was a nice touch!
When I was little we lived in Pennsylvania and behind our house was some woods. We used to build tree forts and have a girls against the boys “competition”. They weren’t the greatest but I learned how to build things.
My kids would love that!