Blackall, Sophie. Farmhouse. Sophie Blackall, Illus. Little, Brown, 09/2022. 48pp. Picture Book. Grades Preschool-3. $18.99. 978-0-316-52894-8. OUTSTANDING.
A farmhouse in New York, home to a lively family with twelve children, falls into disrepair after the youngest child grows old and leaves. Animals take up residence, including a squirrel hiding nuts in the parlor organ and a bear hibernating in the basement. Author/illustrator Sophie Blackall, the new owner, appears in the final scenes, collecting mementos and family stories to resurrect the house in the form of a beautifully constructed book filled with intriguing, evocative details. An author’s endnote includes additional information about the farm and how the artwork was created; historic photos are included. All characters are assumed to be white. This fascinating look inside a farmhouse over time will spark the imagination of readers both young and old.
Jenny Andrus, Independent