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Review: Building a Home

I was given a copy of Richard Scarry’s My House when I was a child. I had no interest in houses or buildings but the book held great fascination for me due to the incredible illustrations. So it will be for new generations of readers with Polly Faber and Klas Fahlen’s ‘Building a home’. It is such a beautifully illustrated book with real design qualities that even children who are not interested in cranes or diggers will be fascinated. Those who do love cranes and diggers will be in raptures as the details of a large scale building project are explored with real authority…

Book Title: Building a Home (available here)

Author: Polly Faber

Illustrator: Klas Fahlén

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Publication Date: March 2020

Most Suitable for: KS1

I was given a copy of Richard Scarry’s My House when I was a child. I had no interest in houses or buildings but the book held great fascination for me due to the incredible illustrations. So it will be for new generations of readers with Polly Faber and Klas Fahlen’s ‘Building a home’. It is such a beautifully illustrated book with real design qualities that even children who are not interested in cranes or diggers will be fascinated. Those who do love cranes and diggers will be in raptures as the details of a large scale building project are explored with real authority.

The lively illustrations are beautifully created and the small details such as the bird’s nest on top of the crane and the mysterious cat (or is it a fox?) watching from afar, mean that multiple readings will reveal new things each time. The text also raises some smiles with the names that sometimes (but frustratingly not always!) rhyme with the jobs they are doing. Who wouldn’t smile as ‘Lei Wei and Amma saw and hammer’ or watch as ‘Maya runs wire’!

The book also has a glossary and a list of tools at the back which means teachers can use these to teach useful non-fiction reading skills and develop vocabulary. However, this is also a book to be read, enjoyed, talked about and shared by children from 4 to 7. I can see it becoming one of the favourite books during quiet reading and I daresay will be included on many children’s present lists.

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You can order Building a Home online or from your local bookshop.

 

Also featured on our Houses, Homes & Buildings Booklist.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to our Review Panel member for reviewing.

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