The Lantern House

April 15, 2022
Preschool-Grade 3 A house shares its observations and familial attachments in this warm picture-book debut from the cohost of HGTV's Home Town. Throughout the generations, the cozy two-story home proudly shelters and watches over a growing family, which leaves its mark along with milestone memories: a growth chart penciled on the laundry room doorway, a wedding celebration by the fireplace hearth, a grandchild learning to cook in the kitchen. As time passes, the house and its now empty nesters weather the seasons of life together: "My glow is dimmer than it used to be, with only one bedside lamp on in the night. My blue paint is fading, and the picket fence is broken in places." When all the lights go out, the lonely house longs to be loved again. A new family moves in, planting perennials and roots of their own. Trest's painterly, radiant illustrations capture realistic scenes of everyday life and renewal. An illuminating and affecting inspection into what makes a house a home.

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June 3, 2022

PreS-Gr 3-If these walls could talk, they would be full of fascinating stories. This book beautifully tells the story of one house and the care and joy it provides for the families that inhabit it. The house bears witness to all of life's major milestones-birth, first love, pets, marriage, aging. and death. It is a testament to all the memories that a family shares. The combination of poetic text and wistful illustration create a touching and nostalgic mood. The rhythm of the story-it carries readers along to eavesdrop on the pivotal moments of life-is soft and steady as time passes on. One night the lights that have always brightened the house do not come on and it remains dark for some time. Cobwebs appear and dust settles into the corners. The house begins to wonder about its next residents as it lays dormant and patiently waits to again be filled with love. At the outset, this book will remind some readers of Virginia Burton's The Little House, with its quaint and sentimental feel. As the story progresses, more modern elements are included. VERDICT Highlighting the joys of first experiences, the book is idealized and maybe not relatable to all audiences. Nevertheless, it's comforting.-Melanie Okadigwe

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