Review: We Disagree About This Tree by Ross Collins

‘Now just relax and you will see

how Christmassy

a tree can be with decoration left to me.’

Polar Bear and Mouse have got a tree. They are the best of friends – and what could possibly go wrong when two great friends decorate a tree together?

Quite a lot, as it happens.

Mouse loves tinsel and baubles and manatee faeries. Polar Bear, meanwhile, prefers snow and candles and glittery strings of lights. The pair grow steadily more irate with one another, all told through hilarious rhyming text that will be familiar to anyone who knows Collin’s work – think This Zoo is not For You with strings of lights and Christmas sparkle. The interplay between the rhythm of the words and the pictures adds hilarity in such a way that both child and adult reader can enjoy – something adult readers will appreciate when they are on their 254th reread of the festive season.

The use of colour backgrounds cleverly picks up on the emotions within the text and the emotional arc of the story (that is to say, the emotional development of the characters, an arc which is to some extent the same in every story ever told). The point at which the characters are just past the worst moment of their story and are reflecting on what they have learned is given a pale grey background, which contrasts cleverly with the fun pastels earlier on in the story. These block colour backgrounds also prevent the images from becoming overwhelming. Collins knows how to make use of subtly as well as of humour. The facial expressions of his characters, for example, and the gestures between them speak volumes.

The friendship between Polar Bear and Mouse is at the heart of this story. Christmas is sold as a time of family and friends … but we too often forget the silly arguments and petty frustrations that this entails. The tussle over how to decorate the tree will be familiar to anyone who has ever tried to organise a gathering (hence adult appeal) and also speaks to small readers about keeping focused on what is truly important when enjoying the holidays with others.

We Disagree About This Tree is witty and relatable, and will stand the test of time long enough to come out year after year. It will also introduce small readers to a new favourite author/illustrator – because, when you’ve read one book by Ross Collins, you can’t help but want more. Cheerful, chirpy and bright.