2022, Children's Books, Literature & Fiction
WISE Score
Amazon
A gorgeous, dollhouse-style peek into a real 19th-century home that’ll make you want to scrap-book your own family history.
4.9
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Sophie Blackall is essentially the GOAT of modern picture books, and Farmhouse is her masterwork. It’s the total opposite of 'brain rot'—it’s slow, tactile, and deeply human.
In an era of flashy, high-stimulus media, this book asks a child to slow down and look at the textures of a life lived 100 years ago. It’s visually stunning and emotionally grounded. If you’re looking for a gift or a staple for the home library, this is a no-brainer.
Perfect for 4 to 8-year-olds, but honestly, any adult who appreciates high-end illustration will want this on their shelf. It’s a 'forever book.'
It's a gentle, rhythmic celebration of family life and the passage of time. There is zero snark or chaos here—just the cozy, busy reality of twelve kids growing up in a house built by hand.
Sophie Blackall literally salvaged wallpaper and scraps from the real collapsing house to create the illustrations. It turns a historical site into a living, breathing dollhouse that invites kids to wonder about the 'ghosts' of the past in the best way possible.
It's a picture book about a farm. No hidden agendas, no scary content, and no 'surprise' trauma. It's as safe as a warm blanket.
It introduces concepts of history, archaeology, and the lifecycle of a home without feeling like a dry social studies lecture. It builds empathy for people who lived very different lives a century ago.
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