How to build a House

By Nick Turpin and Barbara Nascimbeni

Year: 2005

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 0 23753 065 5

This story of a house that Jack, supposedly, built is a humorous look at children and the grand plans they come up with, while their parents work to make those plans a reality.

Jack wants to build a house – more like a playhouse, in his yard. All, he does is come up with a plan. He, then cleverly (rather cheekily) enlists the rest of his family to finish it!

This book belongs to the Twisters series for little ones where words are few and the illustrations speak a lot.

Excerpt

“We need more people.”

“Your sister can help us.”

“Good work, Dad!”

Home

By Alex T. Smith, Wikipedia

Year: 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 1 40710 540 6

“A house is made of BOARDS and BEAMS

A home is made of LOVE and DREAMS. – anon.

And, that’s how the book starts.

The book does keep its promise as it uses the example of four friends, named simply as One, Two, Three and Four to bring home the lesson that people and relationships make a home not the walls and floors.

It’s a delightful read.

Excerpt

First they talked.

Then they argued.

Then they fought.

Finally they decided to go their separate ways.

“If I’m going,” they all shouted, “I’m taking the house with me!”

The Cow in the House – Puffin Young Readers – Level 2

Retold by Harriet Ziefert

Illustrator: Emily Bolam

Year: 1997

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages:

ISBN: 978 0 44846 298 1

This is one of those books that make you laugh aloud. :-)

It starts with the ubiquitous ‘once upon a time’ and ends with the harried man finding peace and quiet but in an unexpected manner.

A man lives in a noisy house and seeks the help of a wise man. The wise man suggests a series of measures that begin with getting a cow and then some more animals into the house until it’s a menagerie. Or, perhaps a cacophony? :-)

Excerpt

The sheep said, Baa, baa!

The donkey said, Hee-haw!

The cow said, Moo, moo!

The bed creaked.

The chair squeaked.

The roof leaked.

“I can’t live in my house!” said the man.

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: The very lonely firefly, Review here
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?