Mr. Thatcher's House

Written and Illustrated by: Kristin Wauson
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: August 2022
ISBN: 978-1534111578
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: February 24, 2023

Mr. Thatcher wants to build a house, and it must be absolutely, positively perfect. But he's about to learn a lesson about what really makes a house a home in Mr. Thatcher's House.

Mr. Thatcher, a long-eared rabbit, has big plans to build the perfect house. He works hard - measuring and sanding, nailing and gluing - and his house slowly comes together. "But no matter how smoothly he sanded his stair treads, or how precisely he planed his porch planks, it never felt perfect. Something was missing. So he kept building..."

Mr. Thatcher's house grew, and grew, and grew...and still it wasn't perfect. Would he ever complete his home? And then...one morning, he heard a knock at the door. Who could that be? Surely no one would visit his yet-to-be-completed home. Mr. Thatcher opened the door and was surprised to see the witch. Apparently, some children were eating her gingerbread house and she needed a place to stay. "You wouldn't want to stay in this house," Mr. Thatcher protested. "It's far from perfect." But the witch didn't care. She needed a place to stay and once Mr. Thatcher smelled her cooking and his stomach grumbled, he decided one guest was okay in his unfinished house. But no sooner had the witch moved in when there was another knock at the door. It was the three little pigs! And then some bears came knocking, and then more guests... Would Mr. Thatcher ever finish building his house?

Mr. Thatcher's House is a fun, creative tale that takes a fresh look at what really makes a house a home. The author, who also illustrated the book, used many well-known storybook animals as visitors to Mr. Thatcher's house which will no doubt delight young readers who will instantly recognize these characters. There are a few carpentry terms that some readers might struggle with, such as "planed," "chiseled," and "structurally sound," but overall, this is a delightful and creative book that young readers will love.

Quill says: A lighthearted, fun book about what really makes a house a home.