FICTION

My House Is Alive!: The Weird and Wonderful Sounds Your House Makes

by Scot RITCHIE
illus. by Scot Ritchie. 40p. Owlkids. Mar. 2016. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781771471367.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Eight nighttime, nightmare-inducing noises are explained in this humorous picture book. "Knock! Thump! Knock! Who's that at the door?" Why, that sound is made by metal expanding and contracting in the heating vents. Running toilets, defrosting refrigerators, buzzing lights, and settling wood can all contribute to the late-night cacophony. Giant anthropomorphic characters, including a hammer, a bee, monsters, and an apron-wearing coffee pot, all make appearances to delve into nocturnal house noises. Rest assured, the cartoon illustrations are more funny than scary. The text is brief and inviting, making this a perfect choice for storytimes as well as one-on-one bedtime reading.
VERDICT Little ones who might be afraid of the dark will come away assuaged by this comical yet informative study on things that go bump in the night.
Reviewed by Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
This clearly written, instructive, and entertaining book explains the noises children may hear--and fear--in their homes, including the trickle of the refrigerator defroster and the creaking of wooden floors. Ritchie's whimsical green-and-yellow-tinged illustrations contrast the real and imagined explanations for each noise and depict oversize household items coming to life. Hand this to young scientists and young insomniacs alike.
 , Mar 01, 2016

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