The One Day House

Spending time with an older neighbor, GiGi, a boy named Wilson daydreams of one day fixing up her house, which has fallen into disrepair. Wilson talks about various home improvements, such as painting the house "orange and yellow like the sun," repairing the stairs, and planting a garden. GiGi is always appreciative, but insists that Wilson's company is all she needs. When Wilson tells her, "One day, I will fix your piano so you can play music again," GiGi replies lovingly that she will like that. "But today, you are the song in my heart." Durango's story is not just about GiGi and Wilson's friendship; it's also a celebration of the power of community. The determined Wilson does not keep his plans to himself, but shares his ideas with seemingly anyone who will listen: neighbors, his teacher, the librarian, the ice-cream man. The payoff comes when "one day" arrives and we discover that kind Wilson was not just daydreaming but thoughtfully putting a detailed plan into action. By using mixed-media art, Diaz subtly mirrors the spirit of the story; the various elements in each illustration (a combination that includes collage, paint, crayons, and handmade paper) give the pictures a collaborative feel. Just like the community coming together to fix up GiGi's house, Diaz draws on different skills and techniques to create something greater than the sum of its parts. minh lê