| The Caretaker of Tree Palace by C. Dawn McCallum Longhorn Creek Press, 2006 |
The Story behind the story...and resources
Reviews
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING . . .
"A Tale for All Ages! I was totally caught up in this
beautiful tale of loss and loneliness as young Jon is
forced to cope with the loss first of his mother and
then his grandmother. After his mother dies, he
stops talking, "for what words were there to say?"
and becomes the victim of the school bully after he
and his dad move to Texas to live with Jon's
grandmother. He finds solace in his drawings and in
the quiet of the woods at his grandmother's
house--what his mother called "Tree Palace"-- and
very slowly the healing process begins. The elegant
intertwining of the two stories: the story of the
young boy and the story of the birds--is done with
great artistry and sensitivity and leaves the reader
feeling content that "all is well."
Sandra McLeod Humphrey,
Children's Author and Character Education
Consultant-www.kidscandoit.com from
Minnetonka, Minnesota
"Imaginative and Original! I loved reading this book.
The author's portrayal of the main character's
struggle was sensitively and realistically written.
The beautiful and imaginative story of the birds,
written from their point of view, mirrors the story of
the boy and leads to an emotional and poignant
conclusion. I loved the poem at the end as well!"
Elsa Pruneda, a middle school English teacher from
Los Angeles, California
"A Powerful and Sensitive Tale! The Caretaker of
Tree Palace is a powerful story. Author C. Dawn
McCallum has gracefully intertwined two captivating
tales. Jon, also known as Doodles, is a gifted young
artist. He finds escape from his grief-stricken life
by sketching the birds and trees outside his home.
Meanwhile, two mourning doves called Gentle and
Winsome are terrified that the shrinking forest will
threaten their precious new fledglings. Their hope
lies in their caretaker, Jon, to protect them and their
wonderful home. Some called it Tree Palace - but
only those that had the eyes to see it's magic."
Nita Wilmot of New Jersey, Society of Children's
Book Writer's and Illustrators Member
"From the first chapter to the final words, I was
caught up in the fate of Jon, a young artist, and the
birds of Tree Palace. Their lives are intertwined,
showing in a graceful and compelling way the
interconnectedness of all of us who share the
earth."
Susan Engle, Associate Editor, Brilliant Star
children's magazine
"The Caretaker of Tree Palace is a creative and
imaginative tale that grasps the reader immediately
with its vivid descriptions and honesty. It poetically
handles the complex topics of pain, loss and
death while relating the joy, growth and love of life."
"There is a time . . . to be born and a time to die, a
time to plant and a time to uproot."
Bear Cahill, creator of children's animation DVDs,
www.booples.com
"C. Dawn McCallum's prose shimmers with poetic
resonance as she interweaves two stories dealing
with change, loss, and growth. Young adult and
older adult readers alike will be swept up in her
moving tale, which reflects an exquisite sensitivity to
the themes of isolation vs. family, individual
creativity vs. community interaction and
acceptance, and above all the human capacity to
recover from troubling circumstances by drawing on
nature and one's own inner resources."
Dr. Anne Gordon Perry, author, professor of
literature, and editor of ORISON arts journal
"A Tale for All Ages! I was totally caught up in this
beautiful tale of loss and loneliness as young Jon is
forced to cope with the loss first of his mother and
then his grandmother. After his mother dies, he
stops talking, "for what words were there to say?"
and becomes the victim of the school bully after he
and his dad move to Texas to live with Jon's
grandmother. He finds solace in his drawings and in
the quiet of the woods at his grandmother's
house--what his mother called "Tree Palace"-- and
very slowly the healing process begins. The elegant
intertwining of the two stories: the story of the
young boy and the story of the birds--is done with
great artistry and sensitivity and leaves the reader
feeling content that "all is well."
Sandra McLeod Humphrey,
Children's Author and Character Education
Consultant-www.kidscandoit.com from
Minnetonka, Minnesota
"Imaginative and Original! I loved reading this book.
The author's portrayal of the main character's
struggle was sensitively and realistically written.
The beautiful and imaginative story of the birds,
written from their point of view, mirrors the story of
the boy and leads to an emotional and poignant
conclusion. I loved the poem at the end as well!"
Elsa Pruneda, a middle school English teacher from
Los Angeles, California
"A Powerful and Sensitive Tale! The Caretaker of
Tree Palace is a powerful story. Author C. Dawn
McCallum has gracefully intertwined two captivating
tales. Jon, also known as Doodles, is a gifted young
artist. He finds escape from his grief-stricken life
by sketching the birds and trees outside his home.
Meanwhile, two mourning doves called Gentle and
Winsome are terrified that the shrinking forest will
threaten their precious new fledglings. Their hope
lies in their caretaker, Jon, to protect them and their
wonderful home. Some called it Tree Palace - but
only those that had the eyes to see it's magic."
Nita Wilmot of New Jersey, Society of Children's
Book Writer's and Illustrators Member
"From the first chapter to the final words, I was
caught up in the fate of Jon, a young artist, and the
birds of Tree Palace. Their lives are intertwined,
showing in a graceful and compelling way the
interconnectedness of all of us who share the
earth."
Susan Engle, Associate Editor, Brilliant Star
children's magazine
"The Caretaker of Tree Palace is a creative and
imaginative tale that grasps the reader immediately
with its vivid descriptions and honesty. It poetically
handles the complex topics of pain, loss and
death while relating the joy, growth and love of life."
"There is a time . . . to be born and a time to die, a
time to plant and a time to uproot."
Bear Cahill, creator of children's animation DVDs,
www.booples.com
"C. Dawn McCallum's prose shimmers with poetic
resonance as she interweaves two stories dealing
with change, loss, and growth. Young adult and
older adult readers alike will be swept up in her
moving tale, which reflects an exquisite sensitivity to
the themes of isolation vs. family, individual
creativity vs. community interaction and
acceptance, and above all the human capacity to
recover from troubling circumstances by drawing on
nature and one's own inner resources."
Dr. Anne Gordon Perry, author, professor of
literature, and editor of ORISON arts journal
ORIGINS: The Birth of a Story
One morning—I think it was in 2000—
I walked down the steps on the back
porch of my grandmother’s house,
and words came into my head: “The
Caretaker of Tree Palace.” I didn’t
know what it meant, but I knew it
was the title for something. I wrote it
down and wondered when the story
would come.
Tree Palace . . . Can you see it?
Then in the springtime of 2002, a boy
showed up in my living room, standing in front
of my bookshelf. He didn’t talk. He didn’t
smile. He had a ratty old notebook under his
arm. His name was Doodles. That’s all I knew.
For two years, the boy was with me, never
speaking a word. I invented other characters
to interact with him, to pry something from his
tight lips. But I just couldn’t get his story.
In 2004, the silent boy saw a dove, and he
began to draw.
And “The Caretaker of Tree Palace” was
born at last.
For Teachers
FREE TEACHERS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE
FROM THE AUTHOR ONLY.
Email author@cdawnmccallum.com to order.
These items were developed by the author, a
former public school classroom teacher, for
the use of other educators. Ms. McCallum
earned her M.Ed. from the University of North
Texas in 1994 and worked in middle schools
for a decade as an English and Reading
teacher. She's experienced in Shared Inquiry,
4MAT and New Jersey Writing Project as well
as other pedagogical methodologies.
Find these and much more in the Teachers
Guide, also from Longhorn Creek Press!
Teachers Guide ISBN: 0-9764026-4-5
Questions for discussion:
What qualities describe Doodles’ mother,
Catherine?
What qualities describe Doodles’
grandmother?
How does caring for the dove help Doodles’
own wounds heal?
What do you think Doodles and his father’s
lives will be like after the dove is freed?
How did the story of the birds parallel the
story of the boy?
What sacrifices were made by characters for
other characters?
Examine the motives behind those sacrifices.
The doves were named to reflect a
dominating virtue of each dove. What’s your
“dove” name? (See www.virtuesproject.
com/virtues.html for ideas.)
What’s the moral of the story of Eagle? How
can you apply it to your own life?
Activities:
Write a scene of Doodles entering Tree
Palace twenty years in the future. Include
sounds, sights, smells, thoughts and emotion.
Have him make an important choice.
Re-read “The Invitation” at the end of the
book. Express your impression of how you
see Tree Palace through the arts (e.g.,
drama, visual arts, music, writing, etc.)
One morning—I think it was in 2000—
I walked down the steps on the back
porch of my grandmother’s house,
and words came into my head: “The
Caretaker of Tree Palace.” I didn’t
know what it meant, but I knew it
was the title for something. I wrote it
down and wondered when the story
would come.
Tree Palace . . . Can you see it?
Then in the springtime of 2002, a boy
showed up in my living room, standing in front
of my bookshelf. He didn’t talk. He didn’t
smile. He had a ratty old notebook under his
arm. His name was Doodles. That’s all I knew.
For two years, the boy was with me, never
speaking a word. I invented other characters
to interact with him, to pry something from his
tight lips. But I just couldn’t get his story.
In 2004, the silent boy saw a dove, and he
began to draw.
And “The Caretaker of Tree Palace” was
born at last.
For Teachers
FREE TEACHERS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE
FROM THE AUTHOR ONLY.
Email author@cdawnmccallum.com to order.
These items were developed by the author, a
former public school classroom teacher, for
the use of other educators. Ms. McCallum
earned her M.Ed. from the University of North
Texas in 1994 and worked in middle schools
for a decade as an English and Reading
teacher. She's experienced in Shared Inquiry,
4MAT and New Jersey Writing Project as well
as other pedagogical methodologies.
Find these and much more in the Teachers
Guide, also from Longhorn Creek Press!
Teachers Guide ISBN: 0-9764026-4-5
Questions for discussion:
What qualities describe Doodles’ mother,
Catherine?
What qualities describe Doodles’
grandmother?
How does caring for the dove help Doodles’
own wounds heal?
What do you think Doodles and his father’s
lives will be like after the dove is freed?
How did the story of the birds parallel the
story of the boy?
What sacrifices were made by characters for
other characters?
Examine the motives behind those sacrifices.
The doves were named to reflect a
dominating virtue of each dove. What’s your
“dove” name? (See www.virtuesproject.
com/virtues.html for ideas.)
What’s the moral of the story of Eagle? How
can you apply it to your own life?
Activities:
Write a scene of Doodles entering Tree
Palace twenty years in the future. Include
sounds, sights, smells, thoughts and emotion.
Have him make an important choice.
Re-read “The Invitation” at the end of the
book. Express your impression of how you
see Tree Palace through the arts (e.g.,
drama, visual arts, music, writing, etc.)
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