A House in the Woods

Recommended by Lauren B.

A tale of happy cooperation in the forest: two little pigs make two little houses, but when a moose and a bear (respectively) try to move in, the houses collapse. The four of them decide to build a house big enough for all of them, and enlist the help of a team of beaver builders, who ask to be paid in peanut butter sandwiches.

Gently funny, with many full-page illustrations and some on a white background. The art captures the sense of being in a forest, but not a dark and scary one; light filters in.

Pretty lame, unfortunately. I love the early illustrations, especially the spread w/ the text: One morning the two Little Pigs went out walking together. One Little Pig found a feather, and the other found an interesting stick." From that I feel as if I've been promised a quiet story, one about the inner lives of the characters. But no.

Before we know it, we have these little pink pigs walking around like people, making friends with Moose, Bear, and a whole clan of Beavers in hard hats. Together they hustle and bustle and build a house suitable for people, then equip it from a people shaped junkyard and general store. But the pictures aren't playful - they're still subtle, muted, atmospheric. Gee, might as well put Donald Duck's shirt show more and Mickey Mouse's shorts on them and be done with it.

The concept of friends building a house together is lovely, though, so I can't bring my rating any lower...." show less

A story of two pigs, a bear and a moose- great friends, but the big ones accidently break the little ones’ homes. They work together to build a house big enough for all of them (with the help of the beavers).

The illustrations in this book are wrought with detail. They are mixed media, and if you study them long enough you can find hidden treasures.

It's not that the story is all that extraordinary, but the illustrations most certainly are. They're beautiful and full of humor and character. Would I love to live in that house as well ...

Wow, what a charming and beautifully illustrated book! Loved the creativity and teamwork among the animals, as well as the happy ending. A fun, feel-good book!

36 months - Beautiful illustrations and a cute story. Unfortunately it's not likely the most memorable book but we read it a number of times and enjoyed it.

Two pigs have their little woodland dens destroyed when a moose and a bear borrow them. The four animals decide to design a big new house together. It's built by a team of beavers, who get paid in sandwiches.