Blackall, Sophie. Farmhouse. Little, Brown, and Company, 2022. 978-0-316-52894-8. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

This book, which is written in one long sentence, tells the story of a farmhouse and the family who makes the house a home. The house, occupied by 12 children and their parents, is part of a 19th century dairy farm, and each spread details the day-to-day lives of the family members. They perform chores, play, squabble, read, cook, make mischief, share secrets, and dream of the future all together under one roof. Eventually, the children grow up and move away, and the house falls into a state of disrepair. It sits empty, except for its many new animal inhabitants, until the author herself purchases the property and salvages what she can from the old structure. Using the books, maps, sheet music, clothing, keys, and buttons she finds inside as inspiration, Blackall created this book, weaving together a tribute to the house and the family who lived in it so many years ago. This book’s stunning illustrations were created using a variety of mixed media, including Chinese ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Blackall also incorporated additional materials she salvaged from the farmhouse, including wallpaper, newspaper clippings, clothing, string, curtains, and handkerchiefs.

THOUGHTS: This book is so visually impressive that each repeated reading will uncover previously unnoticed details. Each spread bursts with the personalities of the family members, and readers will enjoy flipping back and forth between pages, noting how the family and the farmhouse change over time. It’s a tribute not only to one family and one farmhouse, but to the way time passes and things change. Physical items are left behind, but so too are their stories, waiting to be rediscovered by new generations.

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD