Come Climb with Me: Trees Are My Buds

Come Climb With Me: Trees Are My Buds is a warm and uplifting story for middle grade readers about curiosity, courage, and the joy of discovery.

Twelve year old Timothy Allen loves to climb the tall oak trees in Baker Park. Up in the branches he finds peace, adventure, and friends he calls his "buds." One morning his favorite tree holds a surprise. Hidden in the leaves is an old sardine can tied to a limb. Inside he discovers a worn piece of paper and a silver coin left behind by a young man named Johnny Butler who was drafted into the Army in 1968.

Tim's discovery leads to questions that he cannot let go of. Who was Johnny Butler, and what happened to him after he went to war? With the help of his friends, the Treetop Gang, and their families, Tim sets out to uncover the truth. Their search takes them through old records, newspaper stories, and the memories of a small town that once knew Johnny.

Come Climb With Me is filled with heart, humor, and hope. It celebrates friendship, family, and the simple but powerful belief that every story matters. This gentle adventure reminds readers that curiosity can build bridges between generations and that sometimes the greatest treasures are the stories we discover along the way.