The Little House

by Virginia Lee Burton

Book Overview

The little house first stood in the country, but gradually the city moved closer and closer. This picture book about the changes that come to a little house is beautiful and timeless. In 1942,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 059041383X
• ISBN13: 9780590413831
• Release Date: January 1942
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin co.
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.2" x 0.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

My niece’s love this book

My nieces were born in an old house we rented in a big city. When we finally had enough of the “urban” life, and everything that goes with it we moved out to a rural area to a house that was built around the founding of the town, one of the oldest in the state. Everyone in town knew the previous family that had lived in the home, and the old feller who owned it was overjoyed another large, multigenerational family would love it as he did. The girls adore their big old farmhouse (even if it is in town and not out on open acreage) and instantly related to this story about knowing how much better it is to live rural than in the city.

Charming old-school story

The artwork is so quaint and charming. The story moved me to tears, for how it addresses urbanization. This probably will now replace The Little Island, as my favorite children's book.

This book helped form my personality

The Little House was read over and over again in my home when I was a child. I now give it as a gift to parents having babies. For me, it shows the value of history, both physical and storied. I grew up in a 200-year-old stone home, which my parents brought back from the brink of wreckage. Between that and this book, I find deep value in older homes. I am in the process of remodeling/restoring my fifth home. Lots of love goes into bringing it back to its original beauty. Thank you Virginia Lee Burton for instilling this passion in me way back when.

Super cute

Cute. Too bad these days hgtv would have gutted that place and sold it for a million. Tough times. People flipping houses till no one can afford them. Everyone just wants the same white and grey hiring stuff. It's good to have character. Like this house.

The Little House

Basically I got this book aS a child, and I always loved it.It made sense then to see a little house as living being, and someone who needed to be rescued from the big city or "gentrification" of it's region.I still love the book and I bought a new copy just for the child inside me. ^_~

Childhood Favorite Returns

I remember reading this book as a child and it was one of my favorites. I don't recall what happened to my original book, but am thrilled that this book is once again available to share with my nieces and nephews. It teaches children to appreciate, respect, and most of all cherish things from their past. Great bedtime story for children and the illustrations are as wonderful as ever.

Timeless story

Board books are great for little kids who really want to be involved in holding the book and turning pages. Even though the message of the book is too advanced for our toddler, he really enjoys having this book read to him. He likes pointing to the animals and then the cars. Ultimately, I think he'll appreciate the book's message.

One of the greatest children's books ever written.

As with many of the reviewers here, this was my favorite book as a child, and I consider it to be Virginia Lee Burton's quintessential work. While all her books are wonderful, none have the childlike simplicity and artistry of The Little House. That this book won the Caldecott Medal is no surprise. The illustrations jump off the page. Each page is meticulously drawn with enough vibrant color and detail to peruse for several minutes. Each of the seasons in the country is vividly pictured. As the city encroaches upon the Little House, the frame changes subtly from page to page to show the slow transition from rural to urban life. Both of my children (6 and 3 years of age) are captivated by the illustrations and the story. Reading this book aloud to them brings back fond memories of the countless hours I spent engrossed in it as a child. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it truly is. Even 60 years after it was written, it still has the power to tug at the heart.

An all-time American classic.

This has got to be the best all-round Virginia Lee Burton book, which means it's one of the best children's books of all time. The simple prose reaches a level of lyricism not found in Mike Mulligan, and the illustrations have a folksy charm and energy that's just right. Reading it as an adult, one thinks of all the little houses that were NOT saved, and of the ongoing suburban sprawl that's even now despoiling the landscape, but the fact that the eponymous little house is moved and cared for once again by the end makes it a good story for little kids. Other books by Burton tend to wear me down with repetition, but this one remains fresh with almost every rereading that my kids demand.

As timeless as ever-among the finest of all picture books

Quite simply, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated childrens books of all time. There are no computer graphics, but the simple illustrations have a definite folksy, Americana feel about them. The pages where Burton depicts the changing seasons are gorgeous, and have lost none of their vivacity. I can't imagine not always having a copy of this book around to show my nephews and nieces, and to read to them. It's a keeper, and I will gladly go through tens of copies just to ensure it's always around.Kids love the book because of the picture, and the great sequencing. I love the book because it's just well written, and I have memories of having it read to me when I was in kindergarten. This has always been one of my mother's favorite books, and it's also been one of mine as well. I think this book ages rather well, and it's an interesting look at the growth and development of the country. Some may see this book as being "anti-development", but it's hard not to sympathize with the house as the landscape around her changes and becomes less familiar.My last thought is that I hope when I do have nephews and nieces that there still will be countrysides like the ones depicted in this book.