Little House

Little House is the new book from Katya Balen. This tender-hearted book seeks to teach us the meaning of home and forgiveness in a beautifully lyrical way.

Juno is not happy. She is being shipped off to spend the summer with her grandad while her mom goes abroad to work. She is full of resentment towards her mother for making her spend the summer away from her friends and doesn't truly understand why her mother's work is more important than her. Grandad is extremely patient with Juno in the first couple of days and sees how much she is hurting. He encourages her to take a project and work with him in his workshop.

When exploring grandad's house, Juno discovers a water-damaged wooden house in the attic with some tiny wooden figurines. Juno is captivated by the small family made of wood; there is something magical about how they have been made and she feels connected to them in some way. With the house in disrepair, Juno decides to ask her grandad to help her build another one. She spends the summer learning woodwork and textile techniques and this helps to appease her frustration with her mom and to better understand why her mother had to leave and how important her job is; trying to make the world beautiful for those people who have lost everything and are struggling to find hope.

This book is a heart-warming, beautifully written story of a young girl who only sees her world and not the whole world with its many dark sides. Children will learn to be hopeful from this book and understand about the importance of family and sacrifices.

In the classroom, this book would be an excellent resource for literacy units wanting to use exploration of social and emotional needs as a theme. It was such a pleasure to read.

80 pages/ / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+