Book List of Five Picturebooks About Home
The Children’s Book Review
What to Expect: Home, family, embodiment, belonging.
There’s no place quite like home, and books about home are some of the coziest and most comforting for shared reading. From overcoming fears about being in a new or strange home to falling in love with the home that is yours, there are so many ideas about home to explore.
Here are five picturebooks all about home, perfect for reading together:
Time for Bed, Old House
Written by Janet Costa Bates
Illustrated by A. G. Ford
Ages: 4-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2021) | ISBN: 9781536209983
Sometimes, going to sleep in an unfamiliar house is a bit worrying—even when it’s the home of someone you love. In Time for Bed, Old House, a grandpa helps his grandson feel safe and ready to sleep by walking him through the ritual of putting the house to bed. Readers can follow along with the beautiful, richly colored, and detailed illustrations as they tip-toe from room to room, closing blinds like droopy eyelids, listening to the house yawn and snore, and reading a good-night story. Written in simple, accessible prose, this story is the perfect bedtime treat.
Buy the Book
The Little Blue Cottage
Written by Kelly Jordan
Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Ages: 4-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Page Street Kids (2020) | ISBN: 9781624149238
Not every home is a home all year round. The Little Blue Cottage tells the story of a girl and the summer home she loves as she grows up. Told from the perspective of the seaside cottage as it watches and waits for the little girl it loves, this sweet story helps readers understand how a place can come to be a haven of safety and calm, even as the world around changes and shifts. Lilting text and soft, seaside-colored illustrations conjure up the peacefulness of a summer spent in a loved home, inviting readers to think about the spaces they love too.
Buy the Book
A Home Again
Written by Colleen Rowan Kosinski
Illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Ages: 4-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Two Lions (2021) | ISBN: 9781542007207
How does a house feel when the family it loves goes away? And how does it learn to love you when you’ve only just moved in? A Home Again tells the story of a house that, heartbroken after its beloved family moves away, tries to drive away new owners who might try to live in it. However, one special family persists, and with determination and love, the house becomes a home again. The short, uncomplicated text invites readers into the house’s perspective, while bright illustrations play with shadow and perspective to emphasize the sense of space. This story is perfect for shared reading when the unease of a house move looms.
Buy the Book
Story House
Written and illustrated by Kristen Balouch
Ages: 3-7 | 6 Pages
Publisher: Cameron Kids (2022) | ISBN: 9781951836269
What’s even better than a story about a house? A story that is a house, of course! Story House is an interactive board book that opens to form a playhouse, complete with reusable characters and words that readers can apply and re-apply to create their own stories. Colorful, modern art creates a living room, dining room, kitchen, and loft bedroom, all ready and waiting for their animal inhabitants to enter. Endlessly entertaining, Story House builds literacy, supports imagination and creativity, and is just plain fun.
Buy the Book
The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back
Written by Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 3-6 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2022) | ISBN: 9781536216790
In The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back, home is not just the place where you feel safe and welcome—it’s the place to which you welcome others to be sheltered and nurtured. Vincent the mouse has a house so small that he can carry it on his back, and he always knows the perfect place to put it. One by one, weary travelers find Vincent’s little house and one by one, he invites them in, making space for them until his little house has grown to the size of a bustling, happy village. No one is too big, too fierce, or too scary for Vincent’s house—not even a tired, hungry bear!
Vintage-style, earthy illustrations make use of a clever cut-out detail to show readers how the concept of “home” is really all about the company you keep and the sense of welcome you create. The simple, repetitive text builds on the message of belonging and inclusivity. This is a simple, beautiful, heart-warming story.
Buy the Book
Farmhouse
Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Ages: 3-6 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2022) | ISBN: 9780316528948
Sophie Blackall, an accomplished two-time Caldecott Medalist, takes readers on an exceptional journey through the pages of her exquisitely crafted book, Farmhouse. Readers are treated to a chance to experience the meticulously crafted dollhouse-like world of a cherished farmhouse that is home to twelve children. The breathtaking beauty of the surroundings, with a glittering stream that twists and turns nearby and the captivating countryside setting, offers an opportunity to discover a place that echoes with stories and where every page is bursting with joy and luminous detail.
Based on a real-life family and an actual farmhouse, capturing the daily life of a family with flawless precision, Sophie has created a book that embodies beauty and warmth. Children and adults will relish in this enchanting visit to the farmhouse, which is sure to evoke nostalgia and leave a lasting impression on readers.
Buy the Book
The 6 Picture Books About Home For Shared Reading Time book list was curated by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like these titles by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Houses.
