The Little House

Built to stand the test of time, a little pink house leads a happy life in the countryside, watching the sun rise and set, the moon wax and wane, and the human generations go by. She occasionally wonders what life is like in the big city, never dreaming that one day her curiosity will be satisfied. One day a road is put in, running right by her front yard, and soon the area around her is filled with homes. The homes gives way to buildings, the buildings grow ever taller, and trolley-cars and then an elevated train-track appear before her door. Eventually the little house finds that she cannot see the moon or stars, because of the lights of the city, that she sees the sun only at noon, and that she has become dirty and dilapidated. Is it show more the end for the Little House? Or is another change in store...?

Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1943, this classic picture-book from Virginia Lee Burton, also the creator of such beloved childhood titles as Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Katy and the Big Snow, is a sweet tale that, for all its vintage artwork, feels very fresh and contemporary to me. There are days when, part of a rushing crowd here on the streets of New York City, or squeezed into a packed subway car, I long for quieter, calmer locales - places where I can smell the flowers and see the trees. Even in the less crowded suburban town where I live, I sometimes long for the fresh beauty of the country - somewhere I can sit and really see the stars! Burton taps into that longing with this story of change, painting a portrait of development that is by no means flattering. There is real pathos in the transformation of the world around the house, who is overtaken by urban sprawl, and slowly strangled by the inherent disadvantages of city life, just as there is joy in her liberation from urbanity, and her renewed existence as a family home. The artwork has an old-fashioned feeling to it, but is still very appealing. I particularly liked the way that changing fashions - in both clothing and mode of transportation - are chronicled in the illustrations, through the parade of tiny people and vehicles passing by the house in each scene.

In sum: an engaging, heartwarming tale is joined to appealing artwork in The Little House, making it a book that (much like the house itself) has stood the test of time. show less

I know this wasn't the point of the book, but this story really got me thinking about how much I've been struggling against our new suburban lifestyle. I was longing for urban living---public transit, museums...sidewalks---and I've been chafing a under the difficulty of pedestrian travel, how spread out we are from the people we know, and how much we depend on our car where we live now. But this book helped highlight for me the things I like about living "out in the country".

My kids like the story, too, although my daughter is disappointed that it's not a Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House" story. She seems feel offended at the false advertising of the title.

I loved the full-circle that the little house encounters: from the country to the big city, and then back to the country. I also really loved the illustrations in this book, transporting me back to my early childhood days of picture books (in the late 60's). As I read thru the book and looked at each page, I noticed the steamshovel from Mrs. Burton's other book 'Mike Mulligan and his Steamshovel' even made an appearance! Being a country girl, I appreciated the concept that bigger and faster is not always better. While advancements are great, they can surely make life a bit too harried and overly complicated!! I also appreciated that the little house was never torn down, but ultimately preserved and enjoyed again by later generations. show more The author seemed to be magnifying the concept that the little house was well made, despite her outward appearance. I loved that the fancier high rises in the city were built and then over time fell apart because they were made so cheaply--bigger/fancier is not always better. In a deeper sense, I think our older generation are made more solidly than those of today, with many rich life experiences that have enhanced their beauty and stability. Looking beneath the surface of age can be a treat for the younger generation, if they will just take the time to enjoy their life experiences. show less

What a lovely, special book this is! Long ago placed in my to be read library, I'm glad I finally found it at my local library.

A charming story of a gentle, beautiful little country home. The author/illustrator does a beautiful job of pulling the reader inside the story, while gently turning the pages.

Alas, after many years, it is lost as many large houses and modes of transportation surround it. Then, it is moved and once again, it is loved.

A little pink house on a hill looks content sitting on top of a hill in the beautiful countryside. Staying the same throughout every changing season. This house looks like a home because it seems so warm, cozy, and familiar. Slowly, the scenery starts to change, and it becomes clear that this little house is going to disappear amongst buildings, bridges, and roads. The house suddenly looks sad, sitting in a grimy city. This book may encourage the reader to contemplate the environment that they live in and their carbon footprint. This books is meant for 4-8 year olds, which I think is suitable considering the number of words per page is light. Personally, this book always breaks my heart a little--it's hard to watch such a warm home show more sitting on top of a hill in the countryside, become dwarfed by buildings in a dirty city. When I was a child I had a fascination with farms and the country, so my mom bought me this book, and it has been my favorite book since. This book would be a great book to read-aloud, especially if the teacher wants to encourage discussion about how we can protect our environment. show less

I really enjoyed this book, it put into perspective the destructiveness of humans and our need for growth and speed by telling the story of industrialization through the eyes of a house. This book would be great for older grades fourth and up to talk about industrialization. I think it would make kids think about the world they live in in a very different way. I think it could elicit some really good discussions among students. I would even read this book to middle or high schoolers to talk about industrialization. The illustrations are customary of older books and look to be done with a fine point paint brush. A lot of color is used in the drawings.

Interesting book about a little house built (apparently in the 19th century) that lives through the seasons and, ultimately, the changing of times and urbanization of countryside. The story actually gets pretty sad there for a while, but has a happy ending when the great-great-grand-child of the original builder finds the house and relocates it to the countryside.

Useful certainly for discussions of urban sprawl, country life, growth and change, development of farmland.

The "litlte house" is gendered female, so it's a female protagonist. But since the little house is wholly passive, while it's a sympathetic portrayal, it's not what I would call a strong female role model. Be sure to pair with inanimate females that are shown as strong show more actors in the world -- e.g., maybe "The Little Engine That Could", if you're on a nostalgia kick. show less