It had rained every day since she came to stay with Mother, Father, Morgan, the baby and Tailcat. But just as everyone was getting really fed up of being stuck indoors, the most amazing thing happened!
Suddenly the house started to shudder and rock - and then just floated off down the street and off to sea.
Before long, the family find themselves on the wackiest adventure ever! Hungry cannibals, blood-thirsty pirates, a kidnapping and buried treasure are just some of the hair-raisers in store. Will the family ever see dry land again or will evil One-Eyed Jake cut them into a million tiny pieces?
Pat Hutchins is an English illustrator and writer of children's books.
She won the 1974 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. The work was The Wind Blew, a picture book in rhyme which she also wrote. It shows how "a crowd of people anxiously chase their belongings" in the wind.
امتیاز من: ۳.۵ خیلی خاص نبود، فقط خیلی بامزه بود و زود تموم میشد :) کاملا مناسب صبح روزی بود که شب قبلش دندونت رو کشیدی و حال هیچ کاری رو نداری و میخوای یه کتاب هم حالت رو خوب کنه، هم حس بطالت رو ازت بگیره.
قصه در مورد یه خانوادهست که خونهشون تو سیل از جا کنده میشه و همینطور شناور حرکت میکنن تا دریا و کلی اتفاق براشون میفته. همینقدر احمقانه و بانمک.
When a biblical rainstorm uproots Morgan’s home and whisks it off onto the ocean, Morgan, Mother, Father, baby, Tailcat and the drink-happy Grandmother sail the Pacific and encounter pirates, cannibals and the Bruces. I wasn’t as keen as this as the other works of Hutchins although I did gain a guilty pleasure in enjoying the banter between Father and Grandmother. Lots here to tickle children.
The title promises hijinks and adventure, and the book is certainly written as if it’s funny... but the sardonic mother-in-law jibes grow quickly old, and Hutchins hardly covers herself in glory by portraying Mother as a pitiable lump of vagueness and domesticity.
One of the few books I read voluntarily as a child. I saw it on Jackanory and got it out of the library. Finally bought my own copy of it a little while back and read it with my daughter. The magic was still there and we loved it!
"The House That Sailed Away" by Pat Hutchins, illustrated by Laurence Hutchins, is a thrilling tale of adventure and fantasy. When a heavy rain causes Morgan's house to float away from London, his family embarks on a wild journey across the South Pacific, encountering cannibals, pirates and buried treasure along the way.
This classic children's book, published in 1975, combines humor, excitement and imaginative storytelling, making it a delightful read for kids and parents alike. Pat Hutchins' writing is engaging and accessible, while Laurence Hutchins' illustrations bring the fantastical elements to life.
Key Themes:
Adventure and Exploration: The story is full of action-packed moments, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the family navigates treacherous seas and unexpected challenges.
Family Bonding: Despite the chaos, the family's love and support for each other shine through, helping them overcome obstacles and work together.
Imagination and Fantasy: The book's fantastical elements, including a house sailing away and encounters with pirates, spark readers' imaginations and creativity.
Awards and Recognition
Pat Hutchins is a renowned author and illustrator, having won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 1974 for "The Wind Blew," another popular children's book.
Overall, "The House That Sailed Away" is a charming and entertaining read that will captivate children and adults with its blend of adventure, humor and heart.
This children’s novel is a great read. My whole grade 4 class read it when were nine and it was a big hit with the entire class. If buying a copy, Make sure you get the novel and not the theatrical adaptation. (Only buy that one if you want a script to run your own production of the original book) The story has stuck in my mind all these years.
Funny and easy to read. My 9yo and I enjoyed this paired reading until she ran off and devoured the rest alone. Highly recommended. Great to see a book that's stood the test of time.
I’ve given this book one star only because it’s a theatrical adaption of the original novel, thus it reads as a script - which is great if you are putting on a play. However I’m not, and had been hoping to re-read my childhood favourite. I give the original novel five stars because it was the best book I read as a 9 year old kid and I recommended it to my teacher who read it to our class as a group read, and ALL the kids loved it, even the tough kids ! It’s a great imaginative story for kids with excellent characterisations.
As other reviewers have stated, this was a childhood favourite of mine in the 1980s. I'd never read it again for fear of being disappointed, but at the time this was brilliant stuff: anarchic, energetic, frenzied and exciting. I loved it in a fantastic double bill with the equally good MONA LISA MYSTERY.
I vividly remember going to the local library in the summer holidays and attending some sort of kids club, where we read this, and did activities based on it, sometime between 1980 and 1985, because we'd moved to the next town by 1986...
This book was okay. I didn't really like the way it was written. I don't like to read books in a play perspective. I did like the story though. I liked the details and the characters in the book.
At first the book was very intriguing and engaging as it was humorous and relatable. However I think the pace of the book was quite slow and could have been alot shorter. The illustrations were fabulous and would really help children to imagine stories in their heads. Although I thought the book was good not great, I would recommend this book to children as I think the plot will keep children hooked.