this week's library book
If you haven't discovered Virgina Lee Burton yet, you are sadly missing out. I adore everything she ever illustrated including Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, Maybelle the Cable Car, and Katy and the Big Snow. But my favorite of all her lovely books is The Little House (winner of the Caldecott medal in 1942) when Virginia was 33 years old.
This sweet book tells the story of a happy little house who lives out in the country. She watches the seasons change and the trees grow and takes care of the little family that lives inside. There is a city far off on the horizon and sometimes she wonders what it would be like to live in the city.
Over time, the little house notices that more and more cars are driving by and soon a steam shovel is widening the road so more and more cars can get to the big city. The little house misses her quiet meadows. The city that was once far away seems to be getting closer and closer.
And before she knows it, the meadows and fields by the little house have been replaced with tall buildings and city streets. Now that she lives in the big city, she realizes she does not like it one bit. One day a woman walks by the little house and says "This looks just like the house my grandfather lived in, but it was way out in the country." Upon further research she realizes that the little house is indeed the same.
So they rescue the little house, still sturdy as ever, and drive her back out to the country. "As the little house settled down on her new foundation, she smiled happily. Once again she could watch the sun and moon and stars. Once again she could watch Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter come and go."
11.19.2009
Reader Comments (55)
What a lovely, lovely story!!!
I have to agree, I cried the first time I read this book as well. This is such a sweet book!
This book brings back great memories.
Have a great weekend!
Ashley, with CWDkids
Oh, Mike Mulligan has been a staple in our home. My boys have loved it, and I just brought home The Little House from my mother's. After we finished it, my daughter turned to me and said she was so thankful to live in the country. Me too.
I loved this book as a child - and also Katy and the Big Snow. So much fun!!
I loved this book when I was little! I had completely forgotten about this book! Thanks for reminding why I love it!
This is one of our favorites too. The classics are just too hard to beat!
I loved The Little House as a child in the 70s. I remember reading and marveling at how both wonderful and terrifying the industrial age can be. Ok, maybe I didn't think exactly that, but along those lines.
Burton was way ahead of her time.
I SO love this book! It's one of my favorites and one of my favorite parts of it is the shape. And we don't we have more books shaped like big squares? I don't know why I adore it, but I do...
V.
www.hivingout.blogspot.com
This is one of my all time favorite books!
Love that book with all my heart.
Wow, this little house sounds a lot like me!
ooooh, you just brought back soo many good memories! I'd completely forgotten about that book, and I loved it as a kid. :) Thank you!
I love this book and bought it for Jane's birthday last year. It is amazing. The classics are so much better than the contemporary children's books that are published today. I tear up when I read this story.
i use to check this out from our school library all the time!! so sweet.
Aww, we love this book.
this was my absolute hands down favorite book as a child. My grandparents still own a copy and I look at it every time I'm at their house.
one of my all time favorites too. I remember it so vividly from childhood.
I was just reading through your take on this book and remembered the beautiful tale from my own childhood. i also read Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel. beautiful illustrations and beautiful stories. thank you for sharing your latest beautiful find in children's books.
oldie but goodie - we read it often!