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*The Yellow House* by Blake Morrison, illustrated by Helen Craig
The Yellow House
by Blake Morrison, illustrated by Helen Craig
Ages 3-5 32 pages Candlewick April 2011 Hardcover    

The old yellow house conceals secrets.

The little girl who walks by everyday will see them once, but only when a garden gnome comes to life and invites her over the fence. He races around the yard repeatedly shouting to her, “Come and see this! Come and see this.”

Her journey leads her down a path of multi-colored stones and into a field of long grass where tigers live. She is splashed by the dolphin that swims in the goldfish pond and the panda bear that spends time reading in the garbage can. She gets a quick look at the snake by the tomatoes and the pelican in the apple tree, but she never gets to see what’s inside the house.

When her mother arrives, the magic seems to disappear. The end of this book will have children imagining what was in the house and if the little girl will ever get to see the garden gnome come to life again.

The Yellow House was originally published in 1987. Morrison and Craig bring the abandoned house to life by surrounded it with enchanted grounds and a developing friendship.

Morrison adds drama to the story by showing the mischievous side of the main characters. The illustrations (etchings and aquatints) look as if they have been created from an early time.

This wonderful book will take you to a world where those once-in-a-lifetime magical moments can come true.
 


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  Tanya Boudreau/2011 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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