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. . . . Henkes and Dronzek’s latest pitch-perfect collaboration offers an intimate multigenerational narrative that captures children’s hopeful curiosity about our shared home.” — 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)
“Henkes and Dronzek create a story about a child . . . whose visit to a grandparents’ small beach house allows time for wondering and questioning. . . . The grandparents’ quiet, affirming presences allow their grandchild space to contemplate. . . . 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.” — Publishers Weekly
“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
“Beachcombing is a highlight of the little girl narrator’s visits with her grandparents . . . She examines the shells . . . and ponders her grandmother’s observation that they are little houses . . . The gentle poetic lilt of the girl’s musings is effectively complemented by the precise depiction of seashore wonders in Dronzek’s acrylic paintings, with colors both cheerful and vivid . . . A thoughtful wind-down after a satisfying day at the beach.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“For anyone with memories of spending time with grandparents or other relatives at the beach, smelling salt water, or picking up seashells to bring back home. . . . Dronzek’s sweet scenes use ocean-washed colors while the . . . narration is a childlike and spontaneous experience of the sea, asking readers to slow down and savor their surroundings with all their senses. A book to keep in little houses by the sea, or on library shelves, where readers can ask their own questions about their place in the larger world we all live in.” — School Library Journal
02/21/2022
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)
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.
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.
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. . . . Henkes and Dronzek’s latest pitch-perfect collaboration offers an intimate multigenerational narrative that captures children’s hopeful curiosity about our shared home.
Horn Book (starred review)
09/30/2022
PreS-Gr 3 —For anyone with memories of spending time with grandparents or other relatives at the beach, smelling salt water, or picking up seashells to bring back home. A young girl with black hair and tan skin shares her stories, pondering what kind of animals are in the sea, with thoughts of sandpipers, pelicans, and egrets evoking a sense of nostalgia that comes across on the page. At the end of the day she carries empty seashells home, wondering who or what once lived inside of them, and in bringing their little homes into her home, also brings them into ours. This book is a perfect pairing of text and visuals that tell the story in tandem. Dronzek's sweet scenes use ocean-washed colors while the words provide just enough detail to compel readers from page to page. The narration is a childlike and spontaneous experience of the sea, asking readers to slow down and savor their surroundings with all their senses. VERDICT A book to keep in little houses by the sea, or on library shelves, where readers can ask their own questions about their place in the larger world we all live in.—Amanda Austin
