THE HOUSE ON THE HILL

What if there were a mysterious old mansion, not a derelict but a fine home sparsely furnished with beautiful objects? The nine children in this unusual book explore with tentative care such a fascinating space, responding to old books and toys with delight, trying out a piano, dancing on a tempting expanse of bare floor, playing hide-and-seek, touching, testing, examining, but never harming their find. In Couture's meticulously designed interiors, the many intriguing objects are rendered in loving detail, barely stirred by the children's presence. A subtle message in a quietly disarming package. (Picture book. 3-9)*justify no*