Little houses

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Little houses

Title:

Little houses

Author:

Henkes, Kevin, author.

Dronzek, Laura, illustrator.

Summary:

When a young girl visits her grandparents at the beach, she stays in a little house and walks along the shore gathering seashells—which were once little houses of their own. As she wanders the beach, she wonders about the creatures who used to live in each shell, about the hidden treasures of the sea, and about the mysteries of the world. -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages Ages 4-8 Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Grades K-1 Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm

Genre:

Picture books.

Subject Term:

Shells -- Juvenile fiction.

Beaches -- Juvenile fiction.

Wonder -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Dronzek, Laura,

Publisher:

Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9780062965721

9780062965738

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2022]

Call Number:

P HENKES

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003617118	Picture Books	HENKES	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

From award-winning and bestselling author Kevin Henkes and the acclaimed painter Laura Dronzek, Little Houses is an unforgettable masterpiece about nature, family, wonder, and the ocean. The lyrical writing and stunning paintings make this a great choice for family sharing and for story times all year round.

When a young girl visits her grandparents at the beach, she stays in a little house and walks along the shore gathering seashells--which were once little houses of their own. As she wanders the beach, she wonders about the creatures who used to live in each shell, about the hidden treasures of the sea, and about the mysteries of the world.

Kevin Henkes's text features striking imagery, depth of emotion, and a lovely multigenerational relationship. He deftly captures the feeling of wonder and imagination that is fostered by a trip to the shore. Laura Dronzek's lush, saturated paintings make this book a true treasure for parents and children, and a must-have for the classroom.

Author Notes

Kevin Henkes was born in Racine, Wis. in 1960 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. One of four children in his family, Henkes grew up with aspirations of being an artist. As a junior in high school, one of Henkes's teachers awakened his interest in writing. Falling in love with both writing and drawing, Henkes realized that he could do both at the same time as a children's book author and illustrator.

At the age of 19, Henkes went to New York City to get his first book, All Alone, published. Since that time, he has written and illustrated dozens of picture books including Chrysanthemum, Protecting Marie, and A Weekend with Wendell. A recurring character in several of Henkes's books is Lily, an outrageous, yet delightful, individualist. Lily finds herself the center of attention in the books Chester's Way, Julius, the Baby of the World, and Lily's Purple Plastic Purse.

A Weekend With Wendell was named Children's Choice Book by the Children's Book Council in 1986. He recieved the Elizabeth Burr Award for Words of Stone in 1993. Owen was named a Caldicott Honor in 1994. The Year of Billy Miller was named a Newbery Honor book in 2014.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (1)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Married team Henkes and Dronzek (Summer Song) create a story about a child with light brown skin and black pigtails, whose visit to a grandparents' small beach house allows time for wondering and questioning. Together, the child and grandmother walk along the beach every morning, looking for shells. "Grandma reminds me that shells are little houses. And that gets me thinking." Dronzek paints the shells as the child sees them, up close, dwelling on their colors and forms. "But who lived here? Where is it now? Is its ghost still inside the curved walls?" This thread of inquiry turns from small environments to a large one--what's inside the depths of the ocean. "Fish as big as cars, creatures whose names I don't know, lost toys, lost coins." The grandparents' quiet, affirming presences allow their grandchild space to contemplate. "The world is so big," says Grandpa, smiling, "and there is so much to know. And someday you'll know it all." For now, though, the child treasures a collection of shells, little houses. Henkes writes with quiet grace that avoids preciousness, while Dronzek's acrylic seashore-centered spreads capture one person encountering the natural world with curiosity and reverence. Ages 4--8. (May)