A resourceful girl finds a way to make her new house a home. All it takes is a few personal items, some books, and most of all, a friend.
Rosa and her mother have moved to a new house. Rosa knows what she needs to feel at home in her new room: on Monday, clothes in the closet; on Tuesday, her treasure box on her desk, on Wednesday, a poster on the wall. But still, somehow, her room seems empty. "More," her cat Concertina seems to say.
Late at night in bed, she dreams about how to decorate her room. On Thursday, she borrows five new books from the library. On Sunday, as Rosa sits in her room drawing a picture, she looks out the window and sees a girl outside playing. Now Rosa knows what she needs to make her room special: a new friend.
Perfect for children struggling with transitions, this sensitive story reveals that even disruptive changes can present exciting opportunities and imaginative possibilities for new experiences and new friends.
"Bottner offers a heartwarming story of a young girl moving to a new house and a too-empty room. . . Spiegel's softly colored watercolors are the perfect complement to the text, showing the transformation of both Rosa and her room. . . A welcome addition sure to calm the worries of youngsters facing a similar situation."—Kirkus Reviews
"This exploration of what makes a house a home is perfect for kids facing a move or feeling lost in a new situation. The text is understated, but the watercolor illustrations ably capture the upheaval of settling into a strange place. . . An optimistic, encouraging book that will help make a strange and scary situation less so."—Booklist
"A reassuring read for girls anticipating a move."—Publishers Weekly
"Through simple language and age-appropriate details, Bottner does a good job of capturing a child's point of view. Done in watercolor, gouache, and India ink, the illustrations enhance the mood of the text. The image of Rosa's empty room, filled with only a few pieces of furniture and shaded with solid pastel washes, compares nicely to the final result, a space bursting with bright patterns, colorful clutter, and two friends jumping on the bed. There are many books about moving to a new house but few describe taking a space and making it one's own in such a positive and creative manner."—School Library Journal
Barbara Bottner studied painting in Paris, worked as a set designer, and toured the United States and Europe as a member of an acting ensemble before she turned to writing and illustrating books for children and young adults. She is a New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books, several of which she has also illustrated. She lives in California.
Beth Spiegel has edited award-winning documentary programs for television and directed animated films that have received several international awards. She lives in California.
A resourceful girl finds a way to make her new house a home. All it takes is a few personal items, some books, and most of all, a friend.
Rosa and her mother have moved to a new house. Rosa knows what she needs to feel at home in her new room: on Monday, clothes in the closet; on Tuesday, her treasure box on her desk, on Wednesday, a poster on the wall. But still, somehow, her room seems empty. "More," her cat Concertina seems to say.
Late at night in bed, she dreams about how to decorate her room. On Thursday, she borrows five new books from the library. On Sunday, as Rosa sits in her room drawing a picture, she looks out the window and sees a girl outside playing. Now Rosa knows what she needs to make her room special: a new friend.
Perfect for children struggling with transitions, this sensitive story reveals that even disruptive changes can present exciting opportunities and imaginative possibilities for new experiences and new friends.
Praise
"Bottner offers a heartwarming story of a young girl moving to a new house and a too-empty room. . . Spiegel's softly colored watercolors are the perfect complement to the text, showing the transformation of both Rosa and her room. . . A welcome addition sure to calm the worries of youngsters facing a similar situation."—Kirkus Reviews
"This exploration of what makes a house a home is perfect for kids facing a move or feeling lost in a new situation. The text is understated, but the watercolor illustrations ably capture the upheaval of settling into a strange place. . . An optimistic, encouraging book that will help make a strange and scary situation less so."—Booklist
"A reassuring read for girls anticipating a move."—Publishers Weekly
"Through simple language and age-appropriate details, Bottner does a good job of capturing a child's point of view. Done in watercolor, gouache, and India ink, the illustrations enhance the mood of the text. The image of Rosa's empty room, filled with only a few pieces of furniture and shaded with solid pastel washes, compares nicely to the final result, a space bursting with bright patterns, colorful clutter, and two friends jumping on the bed. There are many books about moving to a new house but few describe taking a space and making it one's own in such a positive and creative manner."—School Library Journal
Author
Barbara Bottner studied painting in Paris, worked as a set designer, and toured the United States and Europe as a member of an acting ensemble before she turned to writing and illustrating books for children and young adults. She is a New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books, several of which she has also illustrated. She lives in California.
Beth Spiegel has edited award-winning documentary programs for television and directed animated films that have received several international awards. She lives in California.
