# Book about tree stump and children turning to birds - Identified

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-about-tree-stump-and-children-turning-to-birds-identified/485303>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 11, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-about-tree-stump-and-children-turning-to-birds-identified/485303 "2009-02-11T00:50:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-about-tree-stump-and-children-turning-to-birds-identified/485303/1 "2009-02-11T00:50:22Z")

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Today I ran across this old thread, in which gris gris and mnemosyne  
mention an old book described as "Its a story of two kids, and there;s this tree stump that if they climb in through it, they come out as birds (crows?). There’s also an island where they go into this cavern/hole, and it’s like all the trees are upside down because of the tree toots coming down into the cavern. I read this book when I was in grade 3 (1989), and I was reminded of it in a dream I had, and I’m wondering what it was. I haven’t theied to Google for it, though I’m going to do that now… "

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2900062&postcount=11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2900062&postcount=11)

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2911706&postcount=40](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2911706&postcount=40)

This is a book I read and loved when I was a kid, and inspired by their description (which was actually less vague than my memories), I was able to find it (using the “Stump the bookseller” website) - it’s “Magic in the Park” by Ruth Chew ([http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Park-Ruth-Chew/dp/059040119X/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234313047&sr=8-2](http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Park-Ruth-Chew/dp/059040119X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234313047&sr=8-2)) - I probably read it a third of a century ago (it was published first in 1973)

Anyway - if the SDMB hadn’t reminded me of it, I probably would ever found it - so thanks!

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-about-tree-stump-and-children-turning-to-birds-identified/485303/2 "2009-02-11T23:29:26Z")

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One bump, and then I’ll let this post fade away.