The House That Floated

by Guojing

Overview

A stunningly beautiful picture book from a critically acclaimed artist that follows a family who lives in a house by the sea as water levels start to rise.

In this gorgeous, wordless story, a family makes their home on a cliff overlooking the sea. They live peacefully, spending their days exploring the ocean and filling their home with warmth and laughter. But as seasons pass, the waters rise, bringing the tides closer to the clifftop and the house. When a powerful storm rages and giant waves engulf the cliff, the family must leave—but not without their beloved home.

Inspired by true stories of communities relocating houses, award-winning artist Guojing evokes a family’s ingenuity and determination to save their home in a moving portrait of empathy, love and strength. Through dreamy ocean scenes and vibrant tones of red, pinks and blues, this striking narrative offers an adventure story with a dramatic and glorious ending.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593709054
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/16/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.38(w) x 11.25(h) x 0.43(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Guojing is a renowned author, illustrator, and concept artist from China. Her debut picture book The Only Child was a New York Times Best Illustrated book and a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Children's Book. Her wordless picture book Stormy: A Story About Finding a Forever Home was an ALA Notable Children's Book and was called "masterful" by The New York Times. Her graphic novel, The Flamingo, garnered multiple starred reviews and was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR. Guojing lives in Canada with her husband and son.

Editorial Reviews

★ 2025-05-16
A family faces change with true ingenuity.

Residing on an isolated cliff in a tiny red house, a couple spend their days fishing, dreaming, and watching the seasons pass. Soon they’re joined by a new companion, a baby whom they nurture year by year, sharing their love for moonlit nights and dolphin watching. As enchanting as their life is, the water that surrounds them is slowly, steadily rising, threatening to swallow their home, once far above sea level. With bravery and trust, the trio build a raft and transport their dwelling to higher ground, where waiting inhabitants hoist it into a peaceful green meadow. This enticing story is told wordlessly, with painterly landscapes providing the perfect setting for tender, intuitive interactions among a small cast of characters. As with much of Guojing’s work, a clear line connects this intimate tale to real-life societal challenges—in this case, the troubling consequences of climate change. And, like Guojing’s other books, the narrative is woven through with an unassailable belief in human goodness, the importance of family and community bonds, and the ineffable beauty of the fleeting world. All of this is adeptly communicated within the space and simplicity of a picture book without feeling overwhelming or overwrought. The couple and their child are dark-haired and pale-skinned.

A hopeful vision of love and persistence in the face of peril.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

★ "The narrative is woven through with an unassailable belief in human goodness, the importance of family and community bonds, and the ineffable beauty of the fleeting world....A hopeful vision of love and persistence in the face of peril." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Young readers will be moved by an ending that reminds us that home is not a place but being close to the ones you love." —The Bulletin, starred review

"A resonant portrait of adaptation that’s at once sorrowful and triumphant." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher