Houses with a Story: A Dragon's Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore

Yoshida (Everyday Scenes from a Parallel World) showcases 30 homes, some of which are inspired by his favorite tales, in this intricately crafted collection of annotated illustrations. Presented first in street-view, then as cross-sections, the structures include an astronomer's residence, the post office of a dragon tamer, and a ghost's mansion, among others. Both the dwellings and their accompanying lore boast a mixture of Japanese and Western influences, though not all the buildings are traditional houses; residents live in train cars, military tanks, and even cacao nuts. Interior renderings and floorplans portrayed using cozy, painterly strokes, and meticulously thin, detailed line point out essential décor and include a summary of the figures who live there. Some houses, such as the mechanic's cottage, are pedestrian, with whimsical details: a note reveals that the mechanic named his boat Max to honor Where the Wild Things Are. Others are rooted in fantasy, with nods to practicality: in the witch's house, its owner "has a penchant for square bottles that fit snugly in the medicine cabinet." In a foreword, the creator writes that his goal is "to recreate my childhood self's delight." Via the myriad abodes that populate this assemblage, that sense of wonder and mystery is transmitted in full. Abundant back matter, including concepts and commentary from Yoshida as well as a step-by-step breakdown of the creation process, concludes. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)