The House Book (Picture Books)
Using a two-story structure as his prototype, DuQuette (Hotel Animal) surveys the components of a generic house. He begins with the facade, then isolates its structural details in watercolor and pencil against white negative space, with accompanying rhyming couplets. For example, the text on a spread showing a flat plane comprised of polished wood, linoleum tile and terra-cotta patio brick reads: "A house is made of many parts; the floor is where the story starts." A floating grid of decorated walls divides the house into rooms, etc. After introducing the home's discrete sections, DuQuette presents a dollhouse-style cutaway view, complete with furnishings and inhabitants. He then backs away to show the suburban street where the house stands and finally offers a bird's-eye view of a town and its outlying areas via a garish-looking float in a parade. Though the illustrations exhibit strong draftsmanship, the interior design of the house looks dated, and the people, pets and other signs of life that give a place its soul look static. But what will likely be of greatest concern to readers is that the house doesn't seem to reflect the family living in it (the mother, father and their childrenAat least four, both boys and girlsAreside in a house with only two bedrooms). Ages 4-8. (May)Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.