Synopses & Reviews
A New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceWinner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Picture BookA Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013 In this unique construction book for kids who love tools and trucks, readers join a girl and her family as they pack up their old house in town and set out to build a new one in the country. Mom and Dad are going to make the new house themselves, from the ground up. From empty lot to finished home, every stage of their year-and-a-half-long building project is here. And at every step their lucky kids are watching and getting their hands dirty, in page after page brimming with machines, vehicles, and all kinds of house-making activities!
As he imagines it through the eyes of his older sister, Building Our House is Jonathan Beans retelling of his own familys true experience, and includes an afterword with photographs from the authors collection.
Review
Starred Review, The Horn Book, January/February 2013 issue:
"Bean creates an engaging story as well as a glimpse into a warm family setting." -- The Horn Book
Starred Review, Kirkus, December 1, 2012:
"Raise the roof for this picture book. Its something special." -- Kirkus, starred review
Review, Publishers Weekly
"A warm look at the nuts and bolts of building a house and turning it into a home."--Publishers Weekly
Review
Starred Review, School Library Journal, February 2013 issue:
"Lovingly told, this captivating tale will help satisfy a childs curiosity of what it takes to create a building from scratch." -- School Library Journal, starred review
Starred Review, The Horn Book, January/February 2013 issue:
"Bean creates an engaging story as well as a glimpse into a warm family setting." -- The Horn Book
Starred Review, Kirkus, December 1, 2012:
"Raise the roof for this picture book. Its something special." -- Kirkus, starred review
Review, Publishers Weekly
"A warm look at the nuts and bolts of building a house and turning it into a home."--Publishers Weekly
Review, Booklist, January 1, 2013
"Whats heartwarming throughout is the depiction of a tight-knit family (“My family makes up a strong crew of four”)." -- Booklist
Review
"Children ages 3-10 who already like tools and diggers arent the only ones who will respond to the warmth and optimism in these clear, detailed, gently color-washed pages." —The Wall Street Journal
"Shot through with pioneer spirit . . . Beans terrific illustrations show a loving family, living in a mobile home as they gather lumber and pour concrete . . . Children will enjoy the comforting solidity of shoring up foundations and sawing strong boards." —The New York Times Book Review (Editors Choice)
* "Raise the roof for this picture book. Its something special." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Lovingly told, this captivating tale will help satisfy a childs curiosity of what it takes to create a building from scratch." —School Library Journal, starred review
* "Bean creates an engaging story as well as a glimpse into a warm family setting." —The Horn Book, starred review
"A warm look at the nuts and bolts of building a house and turning it into a home." —Publishers Weekly
"Wonderfully detailed, often humorous." —BCCB
"Whats heartwarming throughout is the depiction of a tight-knit family (‘My family makes up a strong crew of four)." —Booklist
Review
*A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book* Huffington Post Best Picture Book about Family
An NYPL 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
A 100 Scope Notes Top 20 Book of 2014
* andquot;[Nana in the City] deserves a place on the shelf of classic New York City picture books.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;Castilloand#39;s soft, warmly colored art expresses the childand#39;s changing feelings about the city while also depicting the charactersand#39; close bond.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;A fine example of how firsthand experience can overcome initial fear.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;A rewarding picture book with a vibrant setting.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;The accessible story arc outlines worthwhile messages about openness to new experiences and changing oneand#39;s persepctive, all couched in the security of spending time with a loved one.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
Synopsis
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
Winner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013
In this unique construction book for kids who love tools and trucks, readers join a girl and her family as they pack up their old house in town and set out to build a new one in the country. Mom and Dad are going to make the new house themselves, from the ground up. From empty lot to finished home, every stage of their year-and-a-half-long building project is here. And at every step their lucky kids are watching and getting their hands dirty, in page after page brimming with machines, vehicles, and all kinds of house-making activities
As he imagines it through the eyes of his older sister, Building Our House is Jonathan Bean's retelling of his own family's true experience, and includes an afterword with photographs from the author's collection.
Synopsis
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice In this unique construction book for kids who love tools and trucks, readers join a girl and her family as they pack up their old house in town and set out to build a new one in the country. Mom and Dad are going to make the new house themselves, from the ground up. From empty lot to finished home, every stage of their year-and-a-half-long building project is here. And at every step their lucky kids are watching and getting their hands dirty, in page after page brimming with machines, vehicles, and all kinds of house-making activities!
As he imagines it through the eyes of his older sister, this is Jonathan Beans retelling of his own familys true experience, and includes an afterword with photographs from the authors collection.
Synopsis
In this magical, Caldecott Honor picture book, a young boy visits his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. Then his Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights and sounds of the city are not scary, but wonderful.
Synopsis
A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book and#160;In thisand#160;magical picture book,and#160;a young boyand#160;spends an overnight visit withand#160;his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave,and#160;andand#160;soon the everydayand#160;sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scaryandmdash;but wonderful.and#160;The succinct text is paired with watercolor illustrations that capture all the vitality, energy, andand#160;beauty of the city.
About the Author
JONATHAN BEAN received an M.F.A. from New Yorks School of Visual Arts and now lives and works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His first book, At Night, won the 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and he is also the illustrator of two acclaimed picture books by Lauren Thompson, The Apple Pie That Papa Baked and One Starry Night. Jonathan's parents still live in the house the family built, outside of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.