Product Description
With an early 1970s setting in Oregon’s Umpqua River valley, this book shares the courage, wisdom, humor and folly of ordinary people through the extraordinary lens of a youthful mental health professional. Author Jim Henson draws upon 40 years of professional experience as a clinical social worker in the process of illuminating the lives of clinic employees and the individuals and families they served. The readers of this book will enjoy this unique opportunity to be observers inside the community, inside the clinic and inside the personal connections between client and clinician. Think Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon or James Herriot’s Yorkshire countryside and you are almost there.


Why does one choose to read a memoir? The reasons are as varied as the colors of a Caribbean sunset. Grant’s memoirs of the Civil War—new insights into military leadership? Maybe. Madeleine Albright’s memoirs of her life as the first female Secretary of State—understanding of a woman’s approach to international affairs or tidbits about the way the Clinton administration functioned? Perhaps both. Whatever the motivation leading you to pick up this memoir, you will find a multi-layered commentary on the first few years of someone dedicated to his clients, dedicated to the community, who is not afraid to laugh at himself or at the irony in his environment.

Perhaps you are interested in how a newly minted, very well educated social worker deals with the reality shock of real clients needing real relief while they are living in less than supportive circumstances. If so you will not be disappointed. You will meet Hugh, whose approach to orienting new staff is a unique blend of good humored cynicism, common sense, and a focus on the importance of getting the job done. Micromanaging, never. Hands off, hardly. Responsive when asked, always. He was ready to give practical advice to keep Jim from really messing up. What a gift! Many of us would have had a far easier adjustment to professional life, and would have been more effective professionals sooner, had we been blessed with a Hugh on our first real job.

Perhaps you are a student of social work theory and are interested in what University of Chicago was teaching as state of the art social work theory in the late 60’s? If so, you will not be disappointed. Vignettes illustrating key social work principles abound. Honoring the client’s definition of the therapeutic agenda, facilitating a focus on behavior change, a practical approach to empathy, learning from non-verbal expression, and avoidance of enmeshment are but a few of the social work concepts illustrated here in humorous and delightful stories. All of us who graduated from that august institution in the 60’s knew we were going to save the world and knew we had the tools we needed to succeed. We did not end up saving the world but the stories here show that the concepts we were taught, when used skillfully, could help.

I have worked in community-based programming for over thirty years. It is hard work. It requires patience, respect for those you are trying to serve, and a clear focus on the community or client’s definition of the problem. It requires the willingness to spend the time and energy necessary to form quality relationships and it requires a high degree of skilled professionalism. The stories in this memoir illustrate all of these concepts. What the stories most illustrate however is that a key requisite is the ability to have fun while valuing the effort required. Whatever your reasons for picking up Jim Henson’s memoir, what you will find most worthwhile is the sense of enjoyment and of fulfillment that comes when community based programming is done well. You can expect to find good humor, good will, a healthy dose of common sense and a very good read.

Well done, Jim!
Mary Lee Fitzsimmons, PhD, Executive Director of One World Health Centers, Retired
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Customer Reviews (2)

pee up a tree
`Pee Up A Tree' is funny, factual, irreverent and wise; this book is classic Jim Henson from the title to the last page.What a treasure; both the book and the man.

"Inventive, irreverent and therapeutically wise"
"Inventive, irreverent and therapeutically wise". This is how best selling Northwest author, Jane Kirkpatrick a former employee of Jim Henson describes Pee Up a Tree: a Mental Health Memoir. He explains in the third chapter where that title comes from by the way.

This memoir of a young clinical social worker in the first three years of his practice back in his home state of Oregon. Told in a style reminiscent of Garrison Keillor's tales of Lake Wobegon, you follow the clinic employees and the individuals and families served by the Douglas County Mental Health Services in the early 1970's. Henson states on the copyright page that "This book describes the author's experience while living in the Umpqua Valley in the years 1970 through 1973 and reflects his observations and opinions relating to those experiences. Some names and identifying details of individuals mentioned in this book have been changed to protect their privacy." You have a feeling that he might have combined a few characters and experiences to illustrate some of the practices of the time.

There are poignant stories here such as a request by an elderly neighbor to meet his infant daughter. A request that teaches the young father a lesson in humility.

Henson's book is written in an entertaining style that make one wonder how his memos read to Jane Kirkpatrick and other staff members when he headed the Deschutes County Mental Department beginning in 1973. Here is his letter of application for his first job in Oregon as reported in Pee Up A Tree:

Dear Mr. Wilson:
At this moment as I am writing to request more information about the position for mental health specialist, the police have blocked off the streets surrounding our clinic to deal with a situation at the adjacent high school. Suffice it to say, water cannons are in position and helicopters are making a lot of racket over head, making it difficult to attend to the counseling process.
Having read your ad in the latest quarterly journal, I found myself having a pleasant daydream about your job offering and its pastoral setting. I am interested in relocating and would greatly appreciate receiving more details about your open position and the compensation and benefit package that may come with it.

Sincerely,
Urban Warrior

I enjoyed reading this book very much.


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The Sesame Street characters tell what they like about school. Objects in the pictures are labeled. ... Read more

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Farley goes to the doctor and has his yearly checkup. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Good
I loved this book when I was a little girl and have been searching for it for months! I am glad I found one in such good condition. Thanks.

Great for parents to read aloud before they go to the dr's
A great book that relates well with toddlers and preschoolers.Farley brings his little stuffed animal along and the doctor carefully explains everything that he is doing to both Farley and his little pal.

Easy to read and children engage well. ... Read more

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A brand-new biography about the creator of the Muppets!

Jim Henson was always fascinated with puppets. From his happy childhood in the South to days of dazzling international success with the Muppets, here is a true-life story as magical as Henson's endearing puppet creations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good Read
I bought this book for my daughter as a birthday present.She enjoyed every page as did I when I read it.You can not go wrong with this series (Childhood of Famous Americans)

A cute little book...
A great little book for kids about one of my heroes, Jim Henson.I, an adult, read it because it is one of the few Jim Henson biographies available...where is a full scale adult biography of one of the most important entertainers of our time?This is a sweet little book that the kids will enjoy.And maybe a few adults too...

Good kids book
This is not "The Works" (10 stars**********) but a cute kids book. Hope to see more books published on Jim Henson and his works, past, present and future.

Wonderful introduction for kids to the world of Jim Henson
A great way for kids to experience the magic that is Henson.Jim Henson has had many books written about him, but this one is the best way to introduce kids to the man behind the Muppets. ... Read more

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Photographs and simple text introduce Jim Henson and the popular puppets he created. ... Read more

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A biography of the puppeteer whose remarkable creations, the Muppets, have found success in television and other media. Includes advice on setting and reaching goals. ... Read more

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A biography of the late, great creator of the Muppets and the moving force behind television's Sesame Street discusses his childhood fascination with television, his early interest in puppets, his first TV show, and more. ... Read more

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Learning is fun with My First Book Club, featuring Jim Henson's Muppet Babies. This series of books has been especially created to teach preschool children basic concepts and to help them discover and understand the exciting world around them.

Using simple words, bright pictures, familiar subjects, and enjoyable stories, these books will not only stimulate young children's imaginations, but help them develop a lifelong love of reading. ... Read more

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Jim Henson created the Muppets.With infinite talent and inexhaustable patience, he developed a puppeteering technique that brought these characters to life on the television screen.His loveable creations captured the hearts of children and adults around the world while the Sesame Street characters have made learning fun for preschool age children. (20030301) ... Read more

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The Count finds many things to count while preparing for a come-as-you-are party at his castle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of my favorite childhood books
My copy came with a 7 inch record, and I wish I knew where they disappeared to. I thought it was genius to take the song Pennsylvania Polka and change the lyrics to Transylvania Polka. Thank you, Judy! ... Read more

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A collection of comic strips featuring the Muppets, which have previously appeared in newspapers. ... Read more

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Their friendship allows Big Bird to like big things and Little Bird to like little things while they still enjoy each other's company. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable for kids and adults.Good pictures. Fun text.
As one would guess from the title, this book compares big and little things. Big Bird likes big things, like mountains, whales and tubas, and Little Bird likes little things like molehills, goldfish and the piccolo. I think it is very amusing that in one of the pictures it looks like BigBird was reading The New Yorker, while in his hammock. ... Read more

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While visiting a museum, Ernie imagines being King Ernie the Great who shares his cape, crown, and castle with his friends. ... Read more

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All day Ernie plays tricks on Bert until finally he really surprises him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Adorable
My daughter loves this book.I wish I could find the rest in the series. ... Read more

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Fozzie has gotten a new Bicycle, and when he is out with his family, Kermit takes it for a ride without permission. Growing more and more brave on the bike, Kermit crashes, bending a tire and scratching the shiny new paint. He takes the bike to be repaired, but is saddened to realize it will take a week to get it back. In the meantime Fozzie has returned and thinks his bike is stolen. He is brokenhearted at his loss, and Kermit finally tells the truth to Fozzie about the accident. ... Read more