Little Houses

Casting her view more widely, the girl considers the ocean itself, its range of colors and sounds, and the many things held within its waters, then ponders the sky and birds.

Henkes and Dronzek's latest pitch-perfect collaboration (Summer Song, rev. 3/21) offers an intimate multigenerational narrative that captures children's hopeful curiosity about our shared home.

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)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"A pigtailed child visits her grandparents at the shore, where the waves call them to explore the sands just outside the steps of their small seaside house. . . . The girl and her grandmother search for shells of every kind . . . [and] she begins to wonder about the inhabitants of these tiny homes. . . . " — Horn Book (starred review)

"A marvelous book . . . Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek have created an ode to curiosity that urges readers to open their minds and wonder at the world. . . . Every page of Little Houses reminds readers of the infinite ways that oceans, animals, plants, and people are connected." — BookPage (starred review)

"Curiosity and wonder about nature are explored, this time through a family trip. . . . As they walk the beach, the child studies the shells and considers the creatures that once lived in them. Vibrant acrylic illustrations depict these little houses in multiple colors, sizes, and shapes. . . . Her grandparents encourage her to explore her surroundings, inspiring her to want to learn more. . . . Returning to her own house, the girl takes some of the treasures along, understanding that she, too, is part of the wonderful wider world." — Booklist

"In this poetic, reassuring picture book meditation, a girl is swept up in wonderment after her grandmother reminds her that the shells on the beach are tiny houses." — Shelf Awareness