The Home Builders

“What will young readers encounter in the peaceful landscape of this picture book? Lush, full-bleed double-page spreads . . . simple poetic text. . . . Whether children are listening in a group or as individuals at home, they will enjoy this book.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Explores how an array of woodland animals build safe habitats for their babies. . . . Mulazzani uses acrylic colored pencils and collage on paper to create expansive illustrations with pink sky tones, giving readers a sense of calm. Soft dark blue night skies, sparkling with stars, and sleeping animals complete this vision of serenity. . . . Poetic narrative, interpreted artistically by the illustrator. Simple elegant rhyming words lead readers to learn the names for each animal baby . . . encourage[s] little ones to immerse themselves in the lush experience. By using the pictures to fill in the missing details, adults and children can explore and interact, creating a conversation.”—School Library Journal

“Invites children to observe nature for themselves as a variety of creatures busily create their homes. . . . Bajaj’s text is simple, specific, and active, reflecting the hard work of each type of creature to stay alive. . . . Mulazzani’s mixed-media illustrations use soft colors and have a generally cozy feel, yet their clarity and precision allow viewers to spot even the smallest insects on the pages. Children can follow their favorite animal throughout and may come away with the (possibly) new idea that the animals they see outside must work to provide homes for their families, too.”—Horn Book

“Seemingly simple but quietly effective . . . works equally well as a source for early elementary curriculum support and as a calming bedtime story. . . . The accessible language effortlessly introduces new vocabulary and the drawings provide lots of little details while their muted tones evoke feelings of safety and serenity. This is a lovely introduction to how animals survive outdoors, and a good way to encourage conversation, whether comparing and contrasting types of forest dwellings during story hour, or chatting about how critters manage to stay warm and dry as they snuggle down to sleep.”—Booklist