'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday 3 June 2013

Review: Somebody's House


What a colourful book!

Author Katrina Germein has teamed with Anthea Stead for the illustrator's debut picture book, and the result is gorgeous. Stead has created modern rainbow-coloured pictures, full of texture and superb detail.

There is an old orange house, a big yellow house, a shady green house - children will learn their colours in no time. Learning a concept such as colour is a wonderful consequence of sharing an early childhood book.

Children will love exploring the paintings on each page, and you could talk for hours about what each character is up to. 

‘Among the trees is a big yellow house. Who do you think is inside?’

The repetition of the question ‘Who do you think is inside?’ breaks up the rhyming text and offers a moment to pause and ponder.

Just a snippet of the inhabitants or their possessions can be spotted as you peek through the windows. Inside the houses there are grannies who bake and whacky things like sheep and cows, or friends with dancing feet.

Of course, the final house is the comfortable home, with a loving Mummy to hug.

This book is a beauty and you'll want it in your house.

Title: Somebody’s House
Author: Katrina Germein
Illustrator: Anthea Stead
Publisher: Walker Books, $27.95 RRP
Publication Date: May 2013
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781921720338
For ages: 2 - 5
Type: Picture Book