Home - Softcover

PreS—The endpapers of this book look like a patchwork quilt, and on one of the front squares is a quote that underlines the essential message: "A house is made of boards and beams. A home is made of love and dreams." Four animal friends live together happily until the day they all decide to change their lives: One wants them to go to sea as pirates, Two thinks they should climb a mountain and yodel, Three wishes to live in a cave, and Four feels they should go to the big city. Since they can't agree, they go their separate ways, and each one takes a part of their house, leaving only the roof. Of course, nothing is as much fun without friends. All of them return to make up and build their house anew—with one major addition: wheels on the bottom so they can go exploring together. One back endpaper square reads: "Home is where the heart is." Colorful cartoon illustrations in light bright colors fill the oversize pages with many small details—flowers, bugs, and trees are everywhere, offering delight to both lap-sitters or storytime groups. Slight but pleasant.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

There’s a world of crazy adventure inside this humble two-story abode: mountain climbing, cave exploring, jazz-club hopping, and even pirating on the high seas are all shown as alternatives to just sitting around at home. Four friends—a reindeer, a bear cub, a bunny, and a badger, all rendered in Sandra Boynton–like cartoons—share “a house that was a home.” Dissatisfaction seeps in when each friend wants to move somewhere else. One wants to be a pirate. Two wants to yodel at the top of a mountain. Three wants to collect creepy crawlies in caves. And Four wants to boogie-woogie all night long in the big city. Solution: each takes part of the house, lugging doors, walls, windows, and the floor to his or her dream destinations. Realizations: they’re lonely without each other, and a house without love is not a home. A clever story, but what really makes this pop are Smith’s full-color illustrations, which depict each fantasy in thought bubbles crammed with hysterically funny details. Great for reading aloud or for savoring alone. Preschool-Grade 2. --Connie Fletcher