This was a very cute and different book - we haven’t read anything like it before, and it is a fun introduction to climbing. The kids can relate to Mack who loves to climb… and sometimes climbs on things that are not safe! With the reduction of playground structures once enabling climbing at school (or higher climbing), many kids resort to perceived bad behavior, like Mack who is climbing lockers and basketball hoops. Mack is enthralled by the gym teacher’s rock wall, cargo net, and climbing ropes - she excels and her behavior is celebrated instead of chastised. The gym teacher agrees to teach her how to rock climb safely.

This was a fun introduction to rock climbing for my four year old. He isn’t quite the climber Mack is, but he does enjoy rock walls and he found this book fascinating.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. The illustrations were vivid and engaging. But the story was hopeful with a child finding the right adult to be a mentor. I especially liked the vocabulary at the end of the book.

Who doesn’t love the feeling of being “on top of the world”? But let’s be honest — not everyone has the courage to actually climb up high, especially not a tree or the side of a cliff. If I were to try rock climbing with my fearless children, this would be the kind of book to help me prepare.

The story gently introduces the basics of climbing through the eyes of a brave little girl discovering her strength and what she’s capable of. And for parents like me, it also quietly acknowledges the biggest concern: safety. The book includes beginner climbing terms at the end, and it’s just the right mix of inspiration and education.