Our Friendly Farmhouse

K-Gr 3–At the start of this heartwarming family tale, a father on a bicycle sees a sign for an auction of land in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains: “‘What if?’ he wondered.” His son narrates the tale of a family that decides to follow their dream to create a life for themselves “away from the city and all its thrills.” From auction to planning to the actual construction of the house and making it into a home, the tale unwinds as this ­loving family plans and works together to build a life in the country with their ideal home, including the animals and wildflowers at their “friendly farmhouse on the hill.” Tender ­illustrations filled with whimsy and love effectively capture the construction process as well as the connectivity of the family. ­Although an idyllic and pastoral setting combined with a loving family make this story ­almost too good to be true, back matter, including photographs, confirms that the author and her f­amily did indeed make this dream into their reality.