'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Review: Who Lives Here

Dan invites his classmate to his house around the corner but doesn’t tell him which house is his. 

The boy, the narrator, sets out the next day at the allocated time, to try and discover where Dan lives.

A stunning folded page extends to show the whole street with its row of houses.

There is confusion. 

Each house is entirely different; one boat-shaped, another with a horse tied out front. Which one could be Dan’s?

 He looks at the first house?

 This had cooking aromas floating from it. The boy peeps in through the window (where there is a flap to lift) and sees why.

In the garden with the horse, there is a stained-glass window with its flap to lift, and another surprise to discover. But no sign of Dan.

This continues down the street, with flaps to lift and discoveries to be made. Until...

What will the boy find when he finally gets to Dan’s house?

That’s the best surprise of all!

Julia Donaldson has created another original and entertaining read in rhyming verse and regular rhythm for reading aloud. It has the element of surprise that children love as they lift the flaps or try to guess what could be hiding there.

Full page illustrations with several extended fold-out pages, give the images that extra advantage. Beautiful and detailed by illustrator Rebecca Cobb, they present the perfect translation of the theme - the promise of fun, and the warmth and friendship blossoming between two children.

Title: Who lives Here
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Rebecca Cobb
Publisher: Macmillan, $ 26.99
Publication Date: 26 July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781509893966
For ages: 3+
Type: Activity Book