A House That Once Was

Two children discover an abandoned house in the woods and venture inside to explore. Through their exploration, they piece together clues about who might have lived there before. The story moves between the present-day discoveries of the children and imaginative reconstructions of the house's past. The illustrations shift between muted, realistic scenes and vibrant spreads depicting the children's speculations about the previous inhabitants. This picture book examines themes of memory, time, and the stories that old houses carry within their walls. The narrative invites readers to consider how places hold traces of past lives and how imagination can bridge the gap between present and past.

Readers describe this picture book as contemplative and dreamlike, focusing on two children exploring an abandoned house. Parents and teachers note it works well for sparking conversations about history and imagination with young readers. Liked: - Atmospheric illustrations that blend reality and fantasy - Open-ended story encouraging kids to ask questions - Gentle pacing that allows reflection - Effective use of color shifts between past and present Disliked: - Some found the narrative too slow or abstract for younger children - A few mentioned wanting more plot resolution - Questions about appropriateness of children entering abandoned buildings Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (90+ ratings) Common reader comment: "The illustrations tell as much of the story as the text." Multiple reviewers noted success using it in classroom settings to prompt creative writing and discussions about family history.

Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler Two children discover and explore an abandoned cabin in the forest, bringing its memories to life through their imagination.

Window by Jeannie Baker A series of wordless scenes shows how a single window view changes over time as a house and neighborhood transform through the years.

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton The story follows a small house as it witnesses the landscape around it change from countryside to city through generations.

Old House by Pamela Duncan Edwards A vacant house shares memories of the families who lived within its walls while waiting for new inhabitants to make it a home again.

This House, Once by Deborah Freedman The origins of a house unfold through the natural elements that became its parts, from the trees that made the walls to the rocks that formed the foundation.

🏠 Author Deborah Freedman was an architect before becoming a children's book creator, which influenced her detailed architectural illustrations in this book. 🎨 The illustrations use different artistic styles to distinguish between past and present: soft, dreamy watercolors for imagined scenes of the past, and bolder colors for present-day scenes. 🏆 The book received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly. 📚 The story was inspired by Freedman's childhood memories of exploring abandoned houses in her neighborhood, combined with her own children's curiosity about previous inhabitants of their home. 🏡 The book explores themes of memory, imagination, and the concept that houses hold stories of all who have lived there - making it both a physical and emotional journey through time.