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The Blue House
In the tradition of Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House comes a heartfelt story about a father and son learning to accept the new while honoring and celebrating the old.
For as long as he can remember, Leo has lived in the blue house with his dad, but lately the neighborhood is changing. People are leaving, houses are being knocked down and shiny new buildings are going up in their place. When Leo and his dad are forced to leave, they aren't happy about it. They howl and rage and dance out their feelings. When the time comes, they leave the blue house behind--there was never any choice, not really--but little by little, they find a way to keep its memory alive in their new home.
For as long as he can remember, Leo has lived in the blue house with his dad, but lately the neighborhood is changing. People are leaving, houses are being knocked down and shiny new buildings are going up in their place. When Leo and his dad are forced to leave, they aren't happy about it. They howl and rage and dance out their feelings. When the time comes, they leave the blue house behind--there was never any choice, not really--but little by little, they find a way to keep its memory alive in their new home.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
1107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
August 20, 2023
this book changed the composition of my DNA. i went into this completely blindly and ended up sobbing my way through it even though it's so short. as someone who had to move out of my childhood home and holds fond memories and yearns to go back, this book struck home. the art style was so gorgeous and familiar, and i savored every single page of this even when it made my heart ache. SUCH a good story to share with kids who experience moving, and definitely a bit cathartic for me as an adult as well. i'm so tempted to get my own copy of this after reading it from the library so i can have a piece of it with me to remind me that home isn't just a geographic coordinate, it's who i'm there with and how i curate my space.
long story short i'll be telling my therapist about this
long story short i'll be telling my therapist about this
September 27, 2023
Phoebe Wahl (who is both author and illustrator for her 2020 picture book The Blue House) evocatively, sweetly, emotionally and often with pure, unadulterated joy shows both textually and visually (pictorially) how a primary caregiver and likely stay-at-home single father and his long haired and artistically inclined son Leo (who does sometimes look a bit feminine in The Blue House but is described by Wahl as definitely being male and using the pronoun he) absolutely love love love their rented blue house of the book title (and which almost seems like a personal friend and family member) but are forced to leave (and find a new place to live) after their landlord sells the rental property to developers (yuck). And not at all surprisingly for many of us who have moved or who have been forced to move, to relocate (and in particular if without choice and that indeed, Phoebe Wall very much shows and focusses on the fact that Leo and his father do not at all want to move but must, but have to when they are evicted, when their rented blue house is sold), once a new place to rent has been found in The Blue House, while this house might be decently suitable for shelter etc., it is also not Leo and his father's old and beloved blue house and only starts feeling more like a home when father and son together paint a picture of the old (and now torn down, no longer even existing) blue house they were forced to vacate on Leo's bedroom wall, and with this being a wonderful and delightful ending for The Blue House and Phoebe Wall showing both textually and illustratively that with art (and also by filling a house with familiar objects) homesickness can be mitigated and a new and unfamiliar rental unit can in time become a place to love, to appreciate and to feel at home in.
Highly recommended is The Blue House for both text and images, but considering that the scenario of tenants being evicted when a landlord sells to developers (and sometimes even just to a new owner) happens all too often and all too increasingly (and with tenants usually having no say and no recourse in the matter, and especially so in the USA and in Canada, it seems), I frankly and personally speaking kind of do wish that since The Blue House has an appreciated anti-gentrification vibe, that there would be just a bit more overt and solid verbal criticism and condemnation by Phoebe Wahl of the father and Leo being evicted (and that perhaps and even if in finally in vain, the father being shown in The Blue House as trying to fight against the eviction, against greedy landlords and developers). However and of course, if Phoebe Wahl were to actually do this, if the anti-gentrification attitude and philosophy of The Blue House were more overt (and judgmental against landlords, developers and the like), even if I myself would totally enjoy and even much prefer that, it might well also turn others off and might also and sadly cause The Blue House to end up on a hit list for potential book banners.
Finally, some reviewers do seem to have issues with the "poor but happy " attitude Phoebe Wahl is using in The Blue House and claim that it could feel potentially offensive to individuals actually experiencing poverty, housing insecurity etc. But while I can appreciate and even understand this sentiment (as an adult), I also think that the intended audience, that young children would probably not at all be bothered, and that being seriously troubled by Wahl showing Leo and his father as poor but contented might well be a bit hyper-critical and also reading way too much into the presented text of The Blue House. And yes, for those of you who are so freaked out by Leo looking a bit feminine and having long hair and by that one illustration of Leo in the bath and his father keeping him company and reading aloud to him that you would consider The Blue House as something unacceptable for picture book (and even possibly pedophilic), oh and honestly, do grow up.
Highly recommended is The Blue House for both text and images, but considering that the scenario of tenants being evicted when a landlord sells to developers (and sometimes even just to a new owner) happens all too often and all too increasingly (and with tenants usually having no say and no recourse in the matter, and especially so in the USA and in Canada, it seems), I frankly and personally speaking kind of do wish that since The Blue House has an appreciated anti-gentrification vibe, that there would be just a bit more overt and solid verbal criticism and condemnation by Phoebe Wahl of the father and Leo being evicted (and that perhaps and even if in finally in vain, the father being shown in The Blue House as trying to fight against the eviction, against greedy landlords and developers). However and of course, if Phoebe Wahl were to actually do this, if the anti-gentrification attitude and philosophy of The Blue House were more overt (and judgmental against landlords, developers and the like), even if I myself would totally enjoy and even much prefer that, it might well also turn others off and might also and sadly cause The Blue House to end up on a hit list for potential book banners.
Finally, some reviewers do seem to have issues with the "poor but happy " attitude Phoebe Wahl is using in The Blue House and claim that it could feel potentially offensive to individuals actually experiencing poverty, housing insecurity etc. But while I can appreciate and even understand this sentiment (as an adult), I also think that the intended audience, that young children would probably not at all be bothered, and that being seriously troubled by Wahl showing Leo and his father as poor but contented might well be a bit hyper-critical and also reading way too much into the presented text of The Blue House. And yes, for those of you who are so freaked out by Leo looking a bit feminine and having long hair and by that one illustration of Leo in the bath and his father keeping him company and reading aloud to him that you would consider The Blue House as something unacceptable for picture book (and even possibly pedophilic), oh and honestly, do grow up.
August 24, 2020
Incredibly detailed and beautiful story about a child, his father and a much loved house. There is so much to enjoy and look at in The Blue House. Phoebe Wahl’s folk art style is warm and comfortable. The household is a loving and close one. Also a very creative and artistic one. If you have a child who is experiencing a house move or other life change-The Blue House is fantastic. Highly recommend.
September 3, 2020
Not only is the folksy art awesome, but I feel like this book fills a hole in picture books of economic diversity.
September 6, 2020
Beautiful, moving illustrations and text. Makes you feel immediately part of the home and family. Loved that myriad feelings associated with losing a home and moving were explored without judgement. The boy and his father don’t try to fight the sadness or anger but find productive channels for it. Excellent.
December 15, 2020
my heart is a puddle after reading this sweet & tender picture book. phoebe's illustrations are the best.
September 8, 2020
With her trademark folk art, Phoebe Wahl writes a modern-day story with a classic feel about change, moving houses, and the relationship between father and son. Amongst the gorgeous art are layers of house vs. home, single parenthood, gentrification, what it means to be a "boy", and enduring change with true emotions. Look closely and you'll find humorous re-titles of books and albums. This book is a modern classic filled with love, heartbreak, and healing.
August 3, 2020
A beautifully illustrated and told, richly detailed, affecting portrayal of a loving father-son family experiencing unexpected change and transition to a new life.
July 26, 2024
maybe NOT the book to read at this time in my life but maybe exactly the book to read!! beautiful artwork and such a good reminder that the memories of your sweet home go with you wherever you are!! <3
January 27, 2021
I loved everything about this picture book, the story was perfect and the illustrations were so fun. The subject matter hit close to home since gentrification is happening in my neighborhood. I don’t understand why people need such big effing houses, especially at the expense of their already small yards. I live in a little green house and sadly, I’m sure when we sell it, it will be bulldozed for a McMansion.
November 17, 2020
This one reminds me of my childhood. I love that Leo's hair is long and that they dance and bake to be happier and get out their rage as well.
October 10, 2021
"You're never far from home when you're with the people you love." What a heartwarming tale about accepting the new while honoring and celebrating the old.
January 9, 2021
Leo and his dad's house isn't perfect but it's theirs and they love it. It's theirs that is until their landlord forces them out and makes plans for it to be knocked down. This beautiful book shows how Leo and his dad process their emotions, accept what they can't change, and find a way to honor and celebrate the old as they move forward. I highly recommend this stunning and incredibly moving conversation opener to parents, teachers, and librarians everywhere.
April 15, 2021
Sad but absolutely lovely. Things I loved- that the little boy has long hair, that it shows a father/son duo that really cares for each other, that it models acknowledging & feeling one's emotions, that it shows the two working gradually through grief and then finally reaching a point of being genuinely ok. The art style is really nice, too- rustic but heartfelt.
May 14, 2021
So Cute !!
February 28, 2021
An emotional, affecting story about a father and son who rent an old, blue house that they absolutely love despite its flaws and eventually have to leave due to their gentrifying neighborhood.
August 17, 2025
Está ok
September 9, 2020
This book was so precious. 💙🏠
August 2, 2023
Aww.... Much to love here. For some reason I didn't quite appreciate it enough, but the 'solution' is perfect. I guess I'd like to see more expression on Dad's face, not just in his words and body language? And Leo's very long hair distracts me, I admit. But there's nothing here about gender or anything else; it's just about having to move to a new house.
October 18, 2020
Homes are so much more than the structures in which we live.
THE BLUE HOUSE, written and illustrated by Phoebe Wahl, explores this question with incredibly tender insight and details. The front and back covers effectively lift this very specific blue house and this very special father-son pair (Leo and his dad) into a liminal white space that could represent any place, any time. The art there and throughout the book utilizes Wahl's characteristic and intentionally primitive style, infused with earthy colors and a very relatable charm.
The polar opposite of this universality is revealed at the opening endpapers, which absorbed my attention for an extended time. The "blue house" is recognizable from the cover, but it lives on a very specific street corner of a very specific neighborhood, one in which every square foot is dense with quirky characteristics and personality, in which each seems to have countless stories to tell. There is a warmth and welcoming spirit to this opening, one that continues with every turn of the page.
The story is simple, and infused with emotions ranging from joy to pain to peace, and everything in between. With hand-lettered, limited text and page after page of intriguingly detailed images, readers learn that the blue house is both dilapidated and a personal palace. Indoors and out, it is the stage on which Leo and his dad celebrate their love and the luxury of lives well-lived, deeply experienced in each moment. When harsh reality forces them to move, they experience "all the feels" together, emptying that old blue house of their lives. No spoiler here, except to praise expert storytelling that offers a departure scene that effectively foreshadows the eventual resolution scene.
Ultimately, we all move on. That is true of physical circumstances, in our emotional lives, and in our relationships. Transitions take time. This simple story is a warmhearted reminder that we will survive change. We can and will, in fact, grow from transitions. What matters most is how we face change. The final endpapers offer a look at that opening neighborhood with some changes underway. There is enough continuity of familiar and comforting anchors to promise that change, over time, can lead us forward in life to something better, while retaining the best of what has gone before.
As with the best picture books, this one entertains and appeals on its face. The underlying and powerful themes offer meat for discussion, but that isn't necessary. Even the youngest children will be adding it to their "read it again" stack, absorbing the themes directly. The boy in the story is clearly an oder child but what entices and appeals is the core of the story- the lively and loving and accepting daily life of this family.
THE BLUE HOUSE, written and illustrated by Phoebe Wahl, explores this question with incredibly tender insight and details. The front and back covers effectively lift this very specific blue house and this very special father-son pair (Leo and his dad) into a liminal white space that could represent any place, any time. The art there and throughout the book utilizes Wahl's characteristic and intentionally primitive style, infused with earthy colors and a very relatable charm.
The polar opposite of this universality is revealed at the opening endpapers, which absorbed my attention for an extended time. The "blue house" is recognizable from the cover, but it lives on a very specific street corner of a very specific neighborhood, one in which every square foot is dense with quirky characteristics and personality, in which each seems to have countless stories to tell. There is a warmth and welcoming spirit to this opening, one that continues with every turn of the page.
The story is simple, and infused with emotions ranging from joy to pain to peace, and everything in between. With hand-lettered, limited text and page after page of intriguingly detailed images, readers learn that the blue house is both dilapidated and a personal palace. Indoors and out, it is the stage on which Leo and his dad celebrate their love and the luxury of lives well-lived, deeply experienced in each moment. When harsh reality forces them to move, they experience "all the feels" together, emptying that old blue house of their lives. No spoiler here, except to praise expert storytelling that offers a departure scene that effectively foreshadows the eventual resolution scene.
Ultimately, we all move on. That is true of physical circumstances, in our emotional lives, and in our relationships. Transitions take time. This simple story is a warmhearted reminder that we will survive change. We can and will, in fact, grow from transitions. What matters most is how we face change. The final endpapers offer a look at that opening neighborhood with some changes underway. There is enough continuity of familiar and comforting anchors to promise that change, over time, can lead us forward in life to something better, while retaining the best of what has gone before.
As with the best picture books, this one entertains and appeals on its face. The underlying and powerful themes offer meat for discussion, but that isn't necessary. Even the youngest children will be adding it to their "read it again" stack, absorbing the themes directly. The boy in the story is clearly an oder child but what entices and appeals is the core of the story- the lively and loving and accepting daily life of this family.
January 4, 2021
The text and illustrations capture the emotions that will surface whenever a family moves perfectly.
Leo and his father have lived in their blue house forever and Leo loves their evening dance parties, baking pies to warm the house in Winter and the berries and tomatoes that they grow in the yard. The comfort and happiness that define home are captured perfectly. Their neighborhood slowly changes as developers move in and one day they get a call from the landlord that the house they live in has been sold. They discuss their anger and cope with the change together and then set to packing and moving into their new house. Eventually they share coping mechanisms to make the change better and eventually the new place becomes home. The illustrations are beautifully detailed and the emotions come through. The happiness and joy, the anger and sadness and finally the recovery as they begin to do all of the things they did in their old place. A reminder that home matters and that home is more than a house.
Leo and his father have lived in their blue house forever and Leo loves their evening dance parties, baking pies to warm the house in Winter and the berries and tomatoes that they grow in the yard. The comfort and happiness that define home are captured perfectly. Their neighborhood slowly changes as developers move in and one day they get a call from the landlord that the house they live in has been sold. They discuss their anger and cope with the change together and then set to packing and moving into their new house. Eventually they share coping mechanisms to make the change better and eventually the new place becomes home. The illustrations are beautifully detailed and the emotions come through. The happiness and joy, the anger and sadness and finally the recovery as they begin to do all of the things they did in their old place. A reminder that home matters and that home is more than a house.
October 20, 2022
Leo and his dad love the Blue house they live in. But when neighborhood around them starts tearing down the old houses, to build new ones they find out the same is going to happen to it. Angry and sad they pack up to move. After a bit time they make their next house into a home as they paint some of the rooms and do activities they used to do at the old house.
Colorful illustrations, nice end papers and hidden cover.
Colorful illustrations, nice end papers and hidden cover.
March 14, 2023
Leo lives in an old blue house next to a big tree. It's not a perfect house, but it's home. But then the landlord tells Leo's father that he's going to sell the house to developers, and Leo has to leave the only home he's ever known.
This poignant story considers the grief of leaving a home and offers a few ideas on how to adjust. I'm not a huge fan of the character designs, but the story itself is powerful and warm.
This poignant story considers the grief of leaving a home and offers a few ideas on how to adjust. I'm not a huge fan of the character designs, but the story itself is powerful and warm.
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May 10, 2023Tried reading this story to my cats and here how it went down:
1. Misel, the tabby cat — he hated being read a story so he slapped me by page 5 😭
2. O’Malley, the orange cat — he was polite but he sneaked away from me so he could sleep
3. Ro, the bicolor cat who has the cutest button nose — she actually enjoyed it or look like she did! She seemed to admire the illustrations as she looked through the pages
1. Misel, the tabby cat — he hated being read a story so he slapped me by page 5 😭
2. O’Malley, the orange cat — he was polite but he sneaked away from me so he could sleep
3. Ro, the bicolor cat who has the cutest button nose — she actually enjoyed it or look like she did! She seemed to admire the illustrations as she looked through the pages
September 15, 2023
Gràcies, mare, per descobrir-me aquesta artistassa, Phoebe Wahl. Que bonic trobar-se amb petits tresors com aquest, que te’ls miraries i te’ls tornaries a mirar una vegada i un altra.
I gràcies, Bàrbara, per explicar-me que Wahl té una altra obra traduïda al català que també sembla preciosa, «La petita bruixeta Hazel. Un any al bosc».
Si a algú li agraden els contes il·lustrats, li recomano moltíssim endinsar-se al món d’aquesta artista! <3
I gràcies, Bàrbara, per explicar-me que Wahl té una altra obra traduïda al català que també sembla preciosa, «La petita bruixeta Hazel. Un any al bosc».
Si a algú li agraden els contes il·lustrats, li recomano moltíssim endinsar-se al món d’aquesta artista! <3
December 18, 2020
This book really surprised me. If you had pitched me a picture book about gentrification I would never have guessed it would be this sweet and readable and filled with little social-emotional gems. The illustrations are so sweet and I love this cute little dad & son family. It's also so beautifully, specifically about the Pacific Northwest and she lives in Bellingham where my bestie lives!
January 5, 2021
I'm utterly in love with Phoebe Wahl's artwork. Her beautiful, whimsical style is so comforting and enchanting. I've been wanting to read this book, and now that I have I really want to buy a copy for my future children. The story is heartwarming and about change being hard and what home is really all about.
Such a sweet wholesome story.
Such a sweet wholesome story.
September 28, 2021
A wonderful lesson about change, this story of a single father and his son who have to accept moving out of their beloved blue house into a new home has a hopeful conclusion, as they find a way to honor their old home by making it a part of their new one.
November 15, 2021
Really lovely message. I like the idea of a single father and a boy with longish hair - it's nice to see diversity in our children's books. I really enjoyed the titles of the books/albums in the illustrations, too!
September 6, 2023
(Incorruptibles CE 2023)
Graphiquement le plus beau des CE, une histoire un peu triste sur la précarité et le deuil d'un bonheur lié à un lieu. Mais aussi une histoire de résilience et de renouveau.
Graphiquement le plus beau des CE, une histoire un peu triste sur la précarité et le deuil d'un bonheur lié à un lieu. Mais aussi une histoire de résilience et de renouveau.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews