Synopsis
A house takes its own vacation while its family is away on holiday. Clever puns in the dialog of the shutters, chimney, windows and other parts of the house make this a fun read.
Children's Literature
When the Peterson family goes on vacation, their house decides to take a vacation of its own. After arguing about the best place to go, the roof, the windows, the chimney, and the sunporch all head down the crowded highway to the beach. After a harrowing trip, the house parts make it back, a bit the worse for wear, but happy and ready for the next vacation. The utter absurdity of the plot will tickle young funnybones, although much of the punning will go over their heads. Lots of silly details in the illustrations, like the little centipede-like legs under the wobbly house and the scruffy dog sitting on a TV on the roof rack of the departing Peterson car add to the fun. The warm, fuzzy, ochre-colored illustrations provide an atmosphere of the fantastic, which contrasts nicely with the bright white and pastel backgrounds of the text. Simple facial lines give the house parts expressions and personality. The house performing its antics in the midst of hapless and oblivious humans is amusing. The returning Peterson family gazes open-mouthed at a perky octopus in the window box and sea weed clinging to the roof of their house as they wonder "what happened?" Sure to be a storytime favorite.