Author/Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2010 (originally published in France under Devant ma maison)
Ages: 3-7yrs
Themes: space perception, imagination, characters in literature
Opening: On a little hill, behind a brown fence, under a big oak tree, is…
Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A child explores the world around his home and fills it with characters from the stories and fables he knows.
I like this book because: each spread is a page turner, that is how the book/story is designed, which makes it a great read-aloud. I reviewed another of Dubuc’s books, Animal Parade, and though the design is similar I still think both stand on their own. I am REALLY looking forward to her new book coming out NEXT WEEK – The Lion and the Bird
Resources/activities: have children make a list from memory of things in front of their own dwellings; make a diorama from the list; discuss different living arrangements – among classmates and around the world – watch the videos form this wonderful series, Families of the World – HERE
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 
This looks like an excellent book! Just the look of it! Aahhh!
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Yikes! I hadbthis scheduled for next week!
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LOL! So then next week when you post THIS week’s intended book, we’ll have a time travel experience 🙂
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Nah, I’ll find another!
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Two books in one day — ha, ha! I’ve done the same thing. This sounds like a very unique book. I like the idea of a child exploring his surroundings. Very creative.
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So silly of me, but I left the house for hours and by then it was too late to change!
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I love this one and her other book. Thanks for the alert about a new one!
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🙂
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Mes livres preferees sont en francais! (I can just see Joanna cringing at my French.)
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It was good enough for me though!
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Oh, I’m sure your French is better than mine too!
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Er…doubt that!I only had a few yrs in HS!
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I’m adding this one to my list. Thanks.
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This looks like my kind of book! It would be cool to get the English and French versions. I wish publisher would publish books with the 2 languages next to each other. 🙂
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Some do, but I bet if it’s not a very concise text, it sure must be tough for a book designer!
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Just this morning, thanks to your posting this book, I read it 🙂 I have to say, I love the concept, enjoyed every page turn and the way it was executed—for the most part. The one thing I think doesn’t quite work for me has to do with the purpose of the book from the child’s point of view.
This is a concept book about position words. As adults, we already know what “next to” and “behind” etc. means, so we don’t need it shown to us. Other than the first and last descriptions (of the hill/tree/house), all the positions aren’t shown. A child can’t “see” what “next to” or “behind” or “on” is : / In that way, I find this otherwise brilliant book, lacking, I’m sorry to say 😦 But am SO glad to be aware of it! So thanks for that, Julie 🙂
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