THIS HOUSE IS HOME

In the opening scene, anthropomorphic rabbits enjoy a multigenerational picnic on a large blanket; a lawn, more family members, and a two-story house are behind them. A white-furred, doe-eyed bunny with a sketchbook introduces herself as Lily, mentioning that her family lives “in the big house at the end of the lane.” The story continues with a nicely rendered watercolor of Lily sitting far above a harbor and city skyline; Lily mentions Grandma’s assertion that their house is “old and steady as mountains.” Although the text initially exudes a bit of gentle humor, as the tale continues, both text and art grow increasingly dark and fraught with angst. Even Lily’s dreams offer her no respite from the completed highway project, and the once-happy family becomes dysfunctional from the stress. Lily braves new, horrifying traffic to rescue a last remaining flower. Then her dreams abruptly change from troubled to confident; she apparently figures out how to save the day, and the final double-page spread depicts the house on a raft, a tugboat towing it to, presumably, a more salubrious setting. Despite obvious thematic resemblance to Virginia Lee Burton’s classic The Little House, this outing offers none of its serenity, instead placing the burden of rescuing this family on Lily’s shoulders. The Hail Mary conclusion is so unbelievable it will likely bring little comfort to young readers.

Troubling.