THE OLD HOUSE

Will it be new residents or demolition for the lonely old house? A “For Sale” sign has stood out front so long that the windows droop unhappily. Passersby muse that it needs to be knocked down. But a family of five stops by and seems interested. Hope is rekindled. The squirrels and birds and the big leafy tree advise the old house to stand up straight and twinkle its windows. The family lingers, with the boy imagining a tire swing hanging from the tree and the girl clearing the tall grass that blocks the flowers. Still, Dad’s final words are, “It needs a lot of work.” Early the next morning, the old house is distressed to hear a bulldozer in the distance. But no! It’s the family in their big rented truck. In no time, TLC creates a happy home. Cole’s watercolors, which humanize the house and tree, add a playful element. Offbeat and appealing. (Picture book. 4-7)