Mr. Tempkin Climbs a Tree

In this warm, slice-of-life picture book, a young boy enjoys spending time with his elder next-door neighbour. During summer vacation, Marky visits every day and helps Mr. Tempkin tend to his garden. They shoot the breeze while watering the flowers, filling up the bird feeders, and appreciating the beauty of cedar waxwing birds. The child asks questions with a charming lack of guile, questions like “How old are you?”, to which Mr. Tempkin wittily replies, “Not as old as Rip Van Winkle … but I’m getting close.” Marky learns a lot from hanging out with his pal. When asked, “Is it hard to be old?”, Mr. Tempkin shares his sage, four-part strategy to stay healthy and happy: walk to synagogue every morning; smell the roses; listen to the birds; and enjoy the company of friends.

When Mr. Tempkin climbs a tree to move a bird feeder out of the reaches of a raiding squirrel, he slips and takes a tumble. Marky springs into action and runs home to tell his mother. Despite Mr. Tempkin’s protestations of “so much fuss for nothing”, an ambulance takes him to hospital to be checked out. Marky waits expectantly on his front porch and is relieved when Mr. Tempkin returns home later that day. A sprained ankle and a wheelchair don’t slow Mr. Tempkin down, and Marky helps wheel him to afternoon synagogue service.

Carles Arbat’s sunny, realistic illustrations have a cinematic appeal, like the opening double-page spread that gives a dynamic, panoramic view of Marky’s street, filled with joggers, families walking hand-in-hand, and neighbours waving hello.

Award-winning Toronto author Cary Fagan has crafted a gentle, genuine story of intergenerational friendship that is perfect for sharing.