A Boy and a House
Description
What will the little boy find at the top of the stairs?
When a little boy sees a cat slip into the open door of an apartment building, the temptation is too great: he follows the cat into the lobby. Before continuing up the stairway, the boy picks up one of several discarded drawings that litter the floor.
Another open door awaits. Again, the boy follows the cat, this time into an apartment filled with books and toys. No one is there, but a table set for tea testifies to the fact that someone has been there recently. More drawings are scattered throughout, which the boy picks up one by one. With his pile of sketches in hand, he continues up several more staircases until he reaches an attic where a wonderful surprise awaits him.
The stunning illustrations in this wordless book invite the reader into a mysterious world that evokes the beauty of the past. Drawn by the light radiating from every open doorway, the boy lets his curiosity take him on an amazing journey of discovery, which young readers can elaborate with their own versions of the story.
Awards
- Winner, White Raven Selection 2015
- Joint winner, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year 2018
- Joint winner, The Years Best List, Resource Links 2020
Reviews
“A good addition to your wordless picture book collection.”
- School Library Connection, 10/18
“Exquisitely illustrated adventure.”
- Sal’s Fiction Addiction, 12/02/18
“Young and old alike will enjoy pondering what messages lurk in—and spill from—this captivating journey from street to sky, dark to light, solitude to companionship.”
- Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 06/15/18
“The best of wordless picture books provide more than a story. They provide a personal journey guided by the art. This is such a book.”
- Youth Services Book Review, *starred review, 12/26/18
“Readers who closely examine the illustrations will find themselves in the shoes of the boy, being pleasantly surprised as they let this marvellous little book captivate them. As the boy continues to progress from the shadows to light, a range of delights opens before him. The same is true for the reader who opens this book—there is much to enjoy contained within its covers . . . If readers are looking for a perfect gift for a dear friend, A Boy and a House might fit the bill to perfection.” —CM Reviews, *starred review, 11/23/18
- Gregory Bryan
“A wordless early-morning adventure full of friendship, surprises, and the dawning of a new day. Beautifully layered watercolor paintings . . . Hidden gems abound in the details.”
- Foreword Reviews, *starred review, 09/18
“Each page in the book is more amazing than the last.”
- OmniLibros, 11/18/19
“With beautiful illustrations, and nice details in the artwork, this book will motivate children to use their imagination to narrate the story. This book could be very useful in a school setting to prompt students to “tell” the story. Recommended for all schools and public libraries.” —ABQLA Bulletin, Quebec Library Association, 12/18
- Sonia Smith
“Kastelic pays tribute to curiosity and mystery and friendship byncreating delicately detailed paintings that invite further study and tell a story that needs no words. A truly delightful story and a high-quality purchase.”
- Booklist, *starred review, 07/01/18