A House That Once Was

by Julie Fogliano, Lane Smith (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times Best Illustrated book!
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of 2018

“Accompanied by Lane's evocative art that suggests layers of history, Fogliano's story turns this childhood scenario into a radiant poem about the mysteries of other people and the wonderfulness of home.” —New York Times

Deep in the woods
is a house
just a house
that once was
but now isn’t
a home.

Who lived in that house? Who walked down its hallways? Why did they leave it, and where did they go?

Two children set off to find the answers by piecing together clues found, books left behind, forgotten photos, and discarded toys, creating their own vision of those who came before, in this deeply moving tale of imagination by Ezra Jack Keats Award–winning author Julie Fogliano and Caldecott Award–winning illustrator Lane Smith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250315618
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Julie Fogliano is the New York Times–bestselling author of And Then It’s Spring and If You Want to See a Whale, as well as the poetry collection, When Green Becomes Tomatoes. Recipient of the 2013 Ezra Jack Keats Award, her books have been translated into more than ten languages. Julie lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and three children. When she is not folding laundry or wondering what to make for dinner, she is staring out the window waiting for a book idea to fly by.

Lane Smith is the author and illustrator of Caldecott Honor book Grandpa Green, runaway New York Times bestseller It's a Book, Kate Greenaway Medalist There Is a Tribe of Kids, and A Perfect Day, among others. He was named the 2012 Carle Artist and received the 2014 Society of Illustrators lifetime achievement award. He lives in an old house in Connecticut with the designer Molly Leach.

Julie Fogliano is the New York Times bestselling author of And Then It’s Spring and If You Want to See a Whale as well as the poetry collection, When Green Becomes Tomatoes. Recipient of the 2013 the Ezra Jack Keats award, her books have been translated into more than ten languages. Julie lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and three children. When she is not folding laundry or wondering what to make for dinner, she is staring out the window waiting for a book idea to fly by.

Lane Smith has written and illustrated a bunch of stuff, including the Kate Greenaway Medalist There Is A Tribe of Kids, and A Perfect Day.

He is also the author of the middle-grade novel Return to Augie Hobble, as well as author and illustrator of Caldecott Honor book Grandpa Green and runaway New York Times bestseller It's a Book which has been translated into over twenty languages. His other works include the national bestsellers Madam President and John, Paul, George &Ben. His titles with Jon Scieszka have included the Caldecott Honor winner The Stinky Cheese Man; The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs; Math Curse; and Science Verse. Lane's other high profile titles include Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss and Jack Prelutsky; The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders; Big Plans by Bob Shea; and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. In 1996, Lane served as Conceptual Designer on the Disney film version of James and the Giant Peach.

In 2012, the Eric Carle Museum named him a Carle Artist for "lifelong innovation in the field of children's picture books," and in 2014, he was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the Society of Illustrators. He lives in rural Connecticut with the designer Molly Leach.

Editorial Reviews

…a radiant poem about the mysteries of other people and the wonderfulness of home.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

Perfectly seamless; words and art are interwoven in a dance that enchants. Inventive and lovely.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A timeless feel and an outstanding picture book.” —Booklist, starred review

“A wizard of wordplay and a maestro of composition combine their considerable talents to explore the notion of home . . . Stirring to the eye and the spirit, this evocative book repays frequent readings.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“[A] lyrical meditation.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“Imaginative and colorful.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“[A] rhythmic, read-aloud-perfect tale . . . poetic and visually striking.” —Horn Book

If You Want to See A Whale:

“Fogliano's words are carved and measured. This is a writer who takes her time, and the leaps she makes with language surprise and thrill.” —The New York Times

“A gorgeous love song to the imagination . . . It's breathtaking . . . Fans will be waiting.” —Booklist, starred review

“Readers will gape at the two enormous, whale-sized talents at work in this transfixing picture book.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

And Then It's Spring:

“In an understated and intimate partnership, Fogliano and Stead conjure late winter doldrums and the relief of spring's arrival, well worth the wait.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Many treasures lie buried within this endearing story, in which humor and anxious anticipation sprout alongside one another.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Fogliano's poetic yet grounded narrative is reminiscent of Charlotte Zolotow's picture-book texts in its understatement and straightforward, childlike observations.” —The Horn Book, starred review

Grandpa Green:

“[Lane Smith's] illustrations, a blend of line drawings and sponge painting, have a classic feel, and make clever use of the topiary theme, rewarding close examination and repeated reading.” —The New Yorker

“Lush and magical.” —People

“An unassuming little masterpiece . . . The book's power lies in its rich, allusive artistry.” —New York Times Book Review

“It's a rare glimpse into Smith's softer side—as skillful as his more sly offerings, but crafted with honesty and heart.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant, this is a book to pore over and talk about.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Sketched with a finely lined fairy-tale wispiness and dominated by verdant green, the illustrations are not just creative but poignant.” —Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 2018-03-04
A derelict house on top of a hill beckons two young children. Two children, possibly siblings, approach the waiting house on a winding, weed-covered path, all the while wondering about its past and those who dwelled within its walls. An empty window invites them to climb in. The tale is not told by the children but by an unseen narrator who seems to speak directly to the readers watching these events from outside the pages. The explorers find all sorts of items that were left behind, while the narrator asks, "Who looked in this mirror?" "Who napped in this chair?" "Who was this someone…who's gone but is still everywhere?" The language is direct, appealing equally to ear, eye, and mind. Intricate double-page spreads allow readers to follow the children as they explore and imagine and then return to their own cozy home. Smith's illustrations neatly separate action from imagination. The children and present-day house are depicted with blotted-line India ink, appearing a bit faded and mysterious (the children's skin takes on the color of the paper beneath). Their imagined house dwellers' activities are painted in bright, light-filled oils with paper collage; the soft edges of these reveal narrow white backgrounds, effectively separating them from now. It is all perfectly seamless; words and art are interwoven in a dance that enchants.Inventive and lovely. (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews