Julia's House for Lost Creatures

K-Gr 2—From the author of Zita the Spacegirl (Roaring Brook, 2011) comes an enjoyable blend of picture book, graphic novel, and fairy tale prose. One day, Julia's house comes to town and settles by the sea. But despite having books, a fire, and toast and tea, Julia finds her house simply too quiet. To remedy the boredom, she makes a sign and invites lost creatures to come and stay. This initially proves to be a good idea as Julia welcomes her new friends and revels in the company. That is, until it gets a little too crowded and a little too messy. Shutting herself in her workshop, she finds a solution to suit herself and the creatures, and she makes another very important sign—a house-chore chart. Soft illustrations complement Julia's spirit and the mischief of the creatures as the story plays out in both panels and spreads. The gentle flow of the story will draw in readers, and Julia's problem-solving will have them giggling as they nod along at her choices. A wonderful addition.—Ashley Prior, Lincoln Public Library, RI