Farmhouse (Ages 3–8)
By Sophie Blackall
Little, Brown & Company
Bright and cheerful illustrations immediately capture the reader’s attention in this recently published picture book by Sophie Blackall. An old farmhouse, well-loved by the family of fourteen who lives there, shows all the beautiful realities of family life: messes, meals together, disciplines, family chores, sicknesses and prayers. Blackall does a wonderful job of weaving a theme of hard work right alongside family love and support. One day, however, everyone grows up and leaves the farmhouse, which stands lonely and forgotten for a time, until a young woman unsuspectingly buys it. Finding the farmhouse still filled with pictures, wallpaper scraps, old chairs and an old stove, she feels compelled to honor it by creating a book about it: Farmhouse. In the back of the book, Blackall explains her story and how she purchased a farm in upstate New York that contained an old falling-down house. Upon discovering the relics of former days inside, she devoted time and effort to researching the family who had lived there and the area in which they lived. This combining of real-life events with a beautiful family story is the perfect blend for a family read.
🖨️ Print post
Leave a Reply