"The house had a tree with a swing,
a garden with roses, and a family.
It was happy.
As years went by, other families came and went.
The house learned about babies being born
and babies growing up.
It learned about bedtime stories and
birthday parties."
The old house is the center of attention here. It stands with its memories of families past, of sounds, smells and sights that permeated its walls while people lived there, happy and content in its shelter. There is no one now, and the house is lonely as can be. It notes the changes in the seasons, and it feels forlorn. It wishes for a family with children and waits rather impatiently for someone to discover it to be the perfect place for a good life.
The house is small and its place in the quiet countryside is not a real draw for a family wanting a new place to start. Time passes slowly; the house ages. When a family finally arrives (with children!), the house feels content. The children want to stay. The parents see its advantages. But they go away, too!
"That night the stars and the moon
are small comfort. And it is the same
the next night. And the next."
Surprise! They return, working hard to return it to its earlier glory. They want to know what the house has to offer ... and to make new memories there. Cozy warmth is captured in elegant, nostalgic images done in mixed media. They provide contrast in the feelings expressed to the book's readers: at first happy, then forlorn and lonely, and finally happy and hopeful once more.
What's special about your house? How does it make you feel? What are some of your best memories there?
I may have to buy this one, which is kind of silly. It just speaks to me on so many levels! Shades of Burton's Little House combined with the illustration style of the late 60s, I guess!
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