Published by Candlewick

Summary:  “Once, out in the country, someone knew right where to build a house.  Inside it smelled of sunshine and new lumber.  Outside smelled of meadow grass and sky.”  As the years pass, one family after another lives there, and the house learns about babies and bedtimes and birthday parties. But one day, a family leaves, and no new family moves in.  The years pass, the house becomes resigned to its fate, but it still can’t help wishing.  Occasionally, a family comes along to look, but decides that the house is too small or too far from the city.  The house has pretty much given up hope when a new family looks at it and seems to like it.  But they go away again…only to return a few days later!  They “fix what needs fixing and paint what needs painting”.  They appreciate the house’s history.  And they start to make new memories for the house.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This would be perfect to pair with Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House.  The illustrations really capture the essence of this beautiful little house, and I was honestly on the edge of my seat wondering if a new family would ever move in.

Cons:  “They fix what needs fixing and paint what needs painting.”  Makes it sound so easy.