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Follow the Line
Follow the Line through the House
Open the front door and step inside a house exploding with patterns, colors, and Laura Ljungkvist’s signature line! Young children can follow the line through every room, discovering hidden surprises. From the kitchen with its stocked refrigerator, to the playroom brimming with toys, to the basement with its shiny toolbox, this house is filled with visual treasures. Questions prompt children to count, identify colors, and find matching elements. The deceptively simple geometric art invites hours of observation and helps build important pre-math skills.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 4, 2011
This is the third book we've read in the Follow the Line series by Laura Ljungkvist. It's a fun book that has so many interesting things to look at as well as a continuous line (somewhat similar to Harold and the Purple Crayon) that takes us throughout a home.
I thought perhaps this might be a bit too young for our girls, but they really liked it and they were eager to answer the questions that are sprinkled throughout the pages. We'd make funny sound effects as we followed the line with our finger and we laughed a lot reading this book. We noticed that there were several items misplaced (although that's fairly normal at our house), so it was a cinch to answer the questions posed at the end of the book. And we also had fun searching for the hidden items mentioned in the book. We will certainly look for the remaining book in the series that we have yet to read.
I thought perhaps this might be a bit too young for our girls, but they really liked it and they were eager to answer the questions that are sprinkled throughout the pages. We'd make funny sound effects as we followed the line with our finger and we laughed a lot reading this book. We noticed that there were several items misplaced (although that's fairly normal at our house), so it was a cinch to answer the questions posed at the end of the book. And we also had fun searching for the hidden items mentioned in the book. We will certainly look for the remaining book in the series that we have yet to read.
November 30, 2008
I love this book. My son and I can spend a lot of time looking at the illustrations and finding different objects. From an educational perspective, following a line as it moves (with your finger or your eyes) really helps improve focus... maybe a good activity to try one-on-one with a student or two!
February 2, 2009
Oh my gosh, I've actually found an "I Spy" type of book that I don't hate! The illustrations are darling and retro and there are about 4-5 questions on each page (Count the pickles in the jar; How many striped shirts do you see, etc.) Simple enough for my 3 year old, but yet challenging enough for my 6-year old to read the questions and find things on his own.
March 4, 2010
This is a great interactive book to read with children. The illustrations are fabulous and the text challenges the reader to get involved in the illustration as well. I love this book...fresh, interesting, and a big hit with kids. I just realized that Laura has two other books written in this concept...gotta find them for the classroom.
August 15, 2017
A simple sorting book for little kids or an elaborate search and find conversation starter for older ones. The options are nearly endless!
April 14, 2018
Great for one-on-one reads (never as a read-aloud, it's much too busy!). Perfect for readers who are into WHERE'S WALDO or I SPY-esque books.
June 26, 2019
Follow the line with your finger. It's kind of fun.
July 28, 2025
Fun way to do a look and find book
June 28, 2015
I first came across this book when I discovered the instagram account of Laura Ljungkvist. I was immediately drawn to her collage style of illustration and use of bold lines. The refrigerator spread is just fabulous. A treasure trove of detail with so many different items to locate and identify.
This book reminded me of William Wondriska's book "A Long Piece of String", originally published in 1963. Click here to see the earlier review.
I was very disappointed when Ljungqvist told me that this book was currently out of print (unless you want the Japanese version). Lucky for me, my local library has a fabulous selection of children's books and a great selection of Ljungkvist's books.
As the title of the book suggests, the reader is encouraged to follow the line through the house. The bold black line takes the reader through the many rooms of the house including the kitchen, basement, bedroom, closet, bathroom cabinet and toy box to name but a few. Some of the pages include questions or challenges for the reader to locate missing items or count objects. One such example is "Can you find the ring that fell out of the jewellery box?"
Keep an eye out for Ljungqvist's daughter's artwork pinned to the wall of the playroom. This is such a sweet detail and made me re-read the book to see what other hidden gems (some literally) I had overlooked. It is likely that the objects contained within the treasure chest page belong to her family too - including the handwritten postcard and old family photos. These charming details are wonderful.
Photos of the inside of this book can be reviewed on my website.
http://www.thelittlestlibrary.com/rev...
This book reminded me of William Wondriska's book "A Long Piece of String", originally published in 1963. Click here to see the earlier review.
I was very disappointed when Ljungqvist told me that this book was currently out of print (unless you want the Japanese version). Lucky for me, my local library has a fabulous selection of children's books and a great selection of Ljungkvist's books.
As the title of the book suggests, the reader is encouraged to follow the line through the house. The bold black line takes the reader through the many rooms of the house including the kitchen, basement, bedroom, closet, bathroom cabinet and toy box to name but a few. Some of the pages include questions or challenges for the reader to locate missing items or count objects. One such example is "Can you find the ring that fell out of the jewellery box?"
Keep an eye out for Ljungqvist's daughter's artwork pinned to the wall of the playroom. This is such a sweet detail and made me re-read the book to see what other hidden gems (some literally) I had overlooked. It is likely that the objects contained within the treasure chest page belong to her family too - including the handwritten postcard and old family photos. These charming details are wonderful.
Photos of the inside of this book can be reviewed on my website.
http://www.thelittlestlibrary.com/rev...
June 20, 2016
Tiara Dietz
I am SO glad that I came across this book! Follow the Line Through the House is a great exploring book! Readers can follow directions by following the single black line that navigates them through every nook and cranny of the rooms in the house. The book is loaded with pages full of details and geometric shapes (great for introducing math shapes!). My favorite part of this book though is the questions that can be found on every single page throughout the lines and shapes! Asking questions is a great comprehension strategy when reading a story, so to have the questions right there in the text is incredible! There is such an assortment of questions, for example: "What would you choose for a snack?" as readers are peeking inside the refrigerator to specific questions like: "how many bottles of nail polish are there?" as readers snoop through the medicine cabinet... so TONS of open ended questions and illustrated-related questions! It is a great story for students to read independently or with a small group/partner as it is very engaging and interactive! I am SO glad that I found this hidden treasure!
I am SO glad that I came across this book! Follow the Line Through the House is a great exploring book! Readers can follow directions by following the single black line that navigates them through every nook and cranny of the rooms in the house. The book is loaded with pages full of details and geometric shapes (great for introducing math shapes!). My favorite part of this book though is the questions that can be found on every single page throughout the lines and shapes! Asking questions is a great comprehension strategy when reading a story, so to have the questions right there in the text is incredible! There is such an assortment of questions, for example: "What would you choose for a snack?" as readers are peeking inside the refrigerator to specific questions like: "how many bottles of nail polish are there?" as readers snoop through the medicine cabinet... so TONS of open ended questions and illustrated-related questions! It is a great story for students to read independently or with a small group/partner as it is very engaging and interactive! I am SO glad that I found this hidden treasure!
August 30, 2018
Follow the Line Through the House Review: The author and illustrator of this picture book is Laura Ljungkvist. This book encourages children to observe each page because most of the pages ask questions throughout the page to see if they can find items that may be hidden on the page. It also allows them to focus so they can find the items asked about on each page. I also believe this book could boost a child’s self-esteem also on the note of finding the hidden items that are asked about on every page. I feel that this book would be a great red for any student in elementary school or for any elementary school teacher to read to their class.
March 29, 2011
Open the front door and step inside a house exploding with patterns, colors, and Laura Ljungkvist’s signature line! Young children can follow the line through every room, discovering hidden surprises. From the kitchen with its stocked refrigerator, to the playroom brimming with toys, to the basement with its shiny toolbox, this house is filled with visual treasures.
Author website:
http://www.followtheline.com/
Teaching Ideas:
Counting, pre-math skills, identifying colors, matching items, etc.
Author website:
http://www.followtheline.com/
Teaching Ideas:
Counting, pre-math skills, identifying colors, matching items, etc.
December 9, 2012
Book Description: Open the front door and step inside a house full of surprises. Travel through each room of the house to discover hidden secrets in each room.
Story: Simple story but very fun to read with little ones and find the different objects that are hidden, but easily found, in each room of the house. My daughter and I both enjoyed this very interactive book together. Great read aloud book.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are fabulous. They are very creative, engaging, and work well with the book’s dialogue. I would give the illustrations four stars.
Story: Simple story but very fun to read with little ones and find the different objects that are hidden, but easily found, in each room of the house. My daughter and I both enjoyed this very interactive book together. Great read aloud book.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are fabulous. They are very creative, engaging, and work well with the book’s dialogue. I would give the illustrations four stars.
January 9, 2013
Not for preschool storytime, that's for sure. But what a fun book for a lap-read or read-alone. It's amazing to see how much is assisting in the picture from just one, continuous line. And the various questions asked are perfect for the 2-5 year old range. Plenty to keep them busy looking as well as asking them for their own opinions. And when you finish you learn there is more that can be looked for if you go back through.
November 19, 2016
This is quite a simple concept, but it is clearly and cleverly presented: a line goes from the first page to the last, and you have to follow it as it meanders around bookshelves and closets and other household items. The line becomes many of the objects and their are a lot of u-turns and crossovers to keep you on your toes. Good for young children who are developing their "finding" skills, their "focusing" skills, and their hand-eye coordination skills.
February 9, 2010
I like that it's trying to get you to look at and question the details even when your supposed task is more direct (like a traditional narrative)--follow the line through the house. Some great simple questions to get readers looking and thinking. The lines and objects are a bit overwhelming/chaotic at times, though.
November 3, 2015
Another fun follow the line book, this time through the house. It goes through a fairly traditional house that has a basement and attic. Would have been nice to see it go through a kids bedroom in addition to the master bedroom and playroom. Fun and clever illustrations. Prefer the going round the world book but this is probably pretty good for younger kids.
March 3, 2011
I do not get these books, but Declan (age6) loves them. He loves to trace his finger over the lines, through the hard pages and the easy pages. It's like a puzzle, I guess. (I don't do puzzles, either)
January 7, 2012
Delightful color palette, great illustrations, multi-layered sharing options. Book will be best shared with one child at a time because of the detail of the pictures. I mean, who would NOT want to follow the line with their finger?
March 1, 2013
You follow the line through various rooms in the house and then go into a more detailed part of that room (e.g.; into the kitchen, and then a closer look into the refrigerator).
I give it a 3.5.
I give it a 3.5.
July 26, 2013
She didn't seem super impressed the first time, so I was surprised when my niece snuck out of her room at naptime to ask for this book specifically. I guess she just didn't want to follow the line all the way around the page, but she did like the book.
March 30, 2008
rhyming text invites reader to different rooms of the house to find hidden objects. there is a lot going on with every page. almost too much.
March 31, 2008
A great quiet time book. Seems best for kids ages 3 or 4 and up.
June 16, 2008
My four-year-old daughter begs me to read this book repeatedly. She loves following the line through the house and searches diligently for the items that are out of place.
April 12, 2008
Cute book for kids to look at together and "race" to find things in the house.
October 8, 2008
Cool picture book! It was fun to have the kids trace the line with their finger and see how the illustrator made the line form dozens of pictures as it went through the house. Very creative.
November 3, 2008
Another enjoyable "Follow the Line" book. I need to find out if there are more of these. The kids requested!
September 30, 2009
One drawn line links this rhyming story and leads to hidden objects in each room of the house.
April 6, 2011
Can you follow the line through the house and answer the questions? This book is great for teaching children to look for detail.
March 29, 2012
Fun book for elementary-school-aged children. No text, just following the line. Great illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews