• Welcome to the Wonder House

Welcome to the Wonder House

Illustrator
Deborah Freedman
Publication Date
July 11, 2023
Genre / Grade Band
Non-fiction /  4th − 5th
Language
English
Welcome to the Wonder House

Currently out of stock
Description

This collection of poems, creatively presented in the format of an allegorical house, will engage anyone who has ever wondered "why?" as it shows young readers that wonder is everywhere--in yourself and in the world around you.

Welcome to the Wonder House, a place to explore the cornerstone of every great thinker--a sense of wonder. This Wonder House has many rooms--one for nature, one for quiet, and one for mystery, among others. Each room is filled with poems and objects covering a wide variety of STEAM topics, including geology, paleontology, physics, astronomy, creative writing, and drawing, that will inspire curiosity in young readers.

This enchanting book written by award-winning poets Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard both sparks wonder and shows readers how to kindle it in themselves.

Publication date
July 11, 2023
Genre
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781635927627
Publisher
Wordsong
BISAC categories
JNF042000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Poetry | General
JNF016000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Curiosities & Wonders
JNF051000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | General
Library of Congress categories
Children's poetry
Poetry
Curiosities and wonders

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-6--A stellar collection of 29 brief poems and numerous mixed-media illustrations. Arranged into 12 "rooms," topics range from curiosity and wishes to science, nature, and ordinary things. Lyrical free verse captivates with rich imagery and language. In "Room of Praise," poems limn the qualities of rain, paper, and web-spinning spiders, described as "quiet as air, patient as monks." Crisp and concise, with internal rhymes and alliteration, these poems beg to be shared and read aloud. Freedman's illustrations complement and add whimsical details, including a stargazing penguin and a scaly, red dragon glimpsed amidst a jumble of blocks. In "Room of Creatures," a murky underwater scene features a sleepy dolphin and the tentacles of an otherwise unseen octopus. A concluding note suggests that readers "look and listen to the ordinary and extraordinary all around you. You'll find wonder everywhere." VERDICT Thoughtful readers will relish the figurative language and imagery, and pore over the well-crafted illustrations. An excellent resource for teachers looking to inspire students in an array of topics, from science and nature studies to creative writing.--Marilyn Taniguchi

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is the author of many children's poetry and picture books that have won various honors, including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award and the Golden Kite Honor Award. She lives near Indianapolis and gives presentations and workshops across the country.

Georgia Heard, winner of the 2023 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, is an internationally recognized expert in the teaching of writing for grades K-8. She works as a consultant in schools and districts around the world, and is longtime staff developer for the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.

Deborah Freedman has written and illustrated many picture books, including Carl and the Meaning of Life, Is Was, and Tiny Dino. Her books have been translated into nine languages, adopted in classrooms, and received many starred and rave reviews, honors, and awards, including SCBWI's Crystal Kite Award and a Parent's Choice Gold Award.