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Too Tall Houses
Good friends learn a small but important lesson
Owl and Rabbit are good friends and live in two small houses next to each other. They are perfectly happy . . . until Rabbit's garden gets in the way of Owl's view. So Owl builds his house a little taller. Only that blocks the sun from Rabbit's vegetables. So Rabbit builds his house taller. And soon it's a house-building frenz...more
Owl and Rabbit are good friends and live in two small houses next to each other. They are perfectly happy . . . until Rabbit's garden gets in the way of Owl's view. So Owl builds his house a little taller. Only that blocks the sun from Rabbit's vegetables. So Rabbit builds his house taller. And soon it's a house-building frenz...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
September 27th 2012
by Viking Juvenile
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"Too Tall Houses" by Gianna Marino features a rabbit and an owl who coexist and live happily side by side until something happens to inject a bit of competition into their relationship.
Rabbit's garden grows so tall that it blocks Owl's view of the forest. Owl builds his house a bit taller but it blocks the sun from shining on Rabbit's vegetables. Rabbit builds his house still taller and plants a garden on top. The water from the rooftop garden falls on Owl and he grows angry.
With each animal com...more
Rabbit's garden grows so tall that it blocks Owl's view of the forest. Owl builds his house a bit taller but it blocks the sun from shining on Rabbit's vegetables. Rabbit builds his house still taller and plants a garden on top. The water from the rooftop garden falls on Owl and he grows angry.
With each animal com...more
Too Tall Houses is the story of how the good friendship between Rabbit and Owl is almost completely ruined when it turns into a ridiculous competition. Rabbit and Owl have always lived in harmony: Rabbit liked to garden, Owl liked to look at his lovely view. But when Rabbit's garden grows and grows so that it blocks Owl's view of the forest, instead of talking to Rabbit about it, Owl simply builds a higher house.
And when Owl's new higher house blocks the sun that Rabbit's garden needs to grow,...more
And when Owl's new higher house blocks the sun that Rabbit's garden needs to grow,...more
I loved this book. Thank you to Goodreads friend Terri Lynn for alerting me to it. I’m not sure I’d have found it otherwise, at least not in the near future.
The illustrations are special. They’re beautiful and interesting, and some are very amusing. I love how they take up entire pages, and how the text/story is placed over the pictures. The expressiveness of Rabbit and Owl are priceless.
The story is wonderful too, and has a moral about getting along with one another and being considerate of one...more
The illustrations are special. They’re beautiful and interesting, and some are very amusing. I love how they take up entire pages, and how the text/story is placed over the pictures. The expressiveness of Rabbit and Owl are priceless.
The story is wonderful too, and has a moral about getting along with one another and being considerate of one...more
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This book is so charming. Rabbit and Owl are neighbors. When Rabbit's veggie garden starts blocking Owl's view of the forest, Owl builds a taller house but that blocks the sun on Rabbit's veggie garden so Rabbit builds a taller house and grows veggies on top of it which blocks Owl's view of the sun and , well, you get the idea. The artwork is warm, friendly, and charming. I loved the pictures a lot. Things start to get silly as the two keep building their houses so tall the winds blow them down....more
1 like · like · see review
Owl and Rabbit are good friends until one day when one of them becomes discontent with the neighborhood. Focusing on their own needs with little regard for how each one's actions will affect the other, things quickly get out of control. When their world literally falls out from under them, they realize that sometimes sharing resources can lead to endless possiblities. I was fortunate to snag an F&G of this one while at ALA12 thanks to a recommendation from my friend Jillian. Loved both the w...more
Rabbit and Owl are friends with houses next to each other. As the story progresses they argue about each other's house interfering with Owl's view and Rabbit's sun for his garden. Each tries to to the other until the houses are so high and the wind blows so strong that both houses fall down. They then realize that they have everything they need.... The illustrations are soft with lots of sunset. Plenty of detail in the illustrations as well, particularly with Rabbit's garden, the twigs flying, a...more
Rabbit and Owl live side by side in two little houses; Rabbit grows vegetables and Owl looks at the forest. Then the houses start getting in the way and they keep building them taller and taller until they have the two tallest houses in the world. But houses that high can't last and they fall to the ground. Rabbit and Owl figure out how to live together.
I love the illustrations of the houses as they get taller and taller. This is a great story about cooperation and getting along and working toge...more
I love the illustrations of the houses as they get taller and taller. This is a great story about cooperation and getting along and working toge...more
Rabbit and Owl live right next door to one another at the top of a hill in separate small houses. Rabbit likes growing vegetables and Owl likes the view of the forest. They were good friends. Until one day, Rabbit’s vegetables got so tall that they blocked Owl’s view of the forest. Rabbit refused to cut his vegetables down, so Owl built his house taller. Then Owl’s house was blocking the sun from reaching Rabbit’s garden, so Rabbit built a taller house and put his garden on the roof. So started...more
I was drawn to this book because of the really beautiful illustrations and was so happy that my 2nd graders really loved this book. The animals' expressions are so well drawn. My students giggled when they saw them. There is one page that made all my students say, "ooohh".
Rabbit and Owl live next to each other. Everything is going well until Rabbit's corn grows too tall. The friends begin to build their houses taller and taller...
I loved it!
Rabbit and Owl live next to each other. Everything is going well until Rabbit's corn grows too tall. The friends begin to build their houses taller and taller...
I loved it!
I think I am in a bad mood today. This book was fine. I liked it enough to give it 3 stars but beyond that...yawn. I guess it is all about getting along and sharing and being a good friend. It also can show kids what happens when we are selfish and fight with our friends....PS what is an OWL and a Rabbit doing together!!! Confusing! (I know...all Children's books don't have to be realistic but....blah!
Gianna Marino’s story and beautiful and amusing illustrations provide a fun lesson in the power of friendship and how we can sometimes mess up a good thing when we don’t take our friends feelings into consideration and become competitive. Kids will love how rabbit and owl try to outdo one another building their homes until (of course) the rivalry takes a decidedly downward turn!
This would be a fantastic read aloud book where readers can make the story come to life with funny voices and facial expression. Two friends begin bickering over a silly issue, each escalading the problem instead of talking it out. I would love to read this with a group of young children and then ask what owl and rabbit could have done differently?
Owl and Rabbit live in two small houses on the top of a hill. Then Rabbit's garden grows too tall and Owl builds a bigger house to keep his view. Then Rabbit extends his house, and.... so it goes (or grows.) Two frustrated animals and two too tall houses nearly ends in catastrophe. A great story with beautiful, detailed illustrations.
Oct 12, 2012
Melissa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
friends,
family-storytime,
fable,
behavior,
problem-solving,
pencil,
preschool-storytime,
gouache,
birds
Well done story, not too many details to bog down the plot for young listeners. Could use this in a fall/garden/harvest storytime, the colors are golden an autumnal. Love Rabbit jumping and Gavin a fit "I want to be tallest!" and Owl's masterfully disgruntled face when he gets wet. But I really love that even before their houses fall down, they are recognizing their predicament and turning to each other for help. Really nice.
A modern day fable, this book is very well written and illustrated. I love the story! In our world where more is never enough, this is a great book to share with children. With a message that could be very didactic, this book will play well with an audience without overpowering them with the message.
Jan 24, 2013
Kathryn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Kathryn by:
Lisa Vegan
Shelves:
childrens-picture-books
4.5 STARS
A delightful and touching story about the pitfalls of one-upmanship and the beauty of true friendship. I love the illustrations and thought the conclusion was sweet and holds a great message without being annoyingly didactic. Thanks to my friend, Lisa, for bringing this to my attention.
A delightful and touching story about the pitfalls of one-upmanship and the beauty of true friendship. I love the illustrations and thought the conclusion was sweet and holds a great message without being annoyingly didactic. Thanks to my friend, Lisa, for bringing this to my attention.
Funny. Two friends get a bit annoyed with one another and try to outbuild each other until their houses reach nearly into outer space. All is resolved when their houses collapse and they realize that they value their friendship more than their houses and build a new house together.
Rabbit and Owl are friends who live next door to each other. Everything is fine until one day they start arguing about each other's houses being in the way. The houses get to a ridiculous height and eventually fall. The illustrations are very nice in outdoorsy neutrals.
Rabbit and Owl are neighbors. They both live in small houses until Owl needs a better view of the forest because Rabbit's garden has grown too tall. Owl's taller house blocks the sun from Rabbit's garden so Rabbit builds a bigger house and puts his garden on the roof. Will these two ever remember they're friends?
What I thought:A great story with such colorful illustrations. Too Tall Houses will be a wonderful addition to my Houses & Homes story time in March. I think the very last illustrati...more
What I thought:A great story with such colorful illustrations. Too Tall Houses will be a wonderful addition to my Houses & Homes story time in March. I think the very last illustrati...more
So much fun! When neighbors Rabbit and Owl get into a competition over who can build the taller house, it can only end badly. This has the flavor of a fable and would make a great readaloud or storytelling. The illustrations are all warm, autumnal colors.
Rabbit and Owl are friends until a series of over-reactions cause their friendship to be on the rocks.
I think this does a great job of teaching perspective. Somethings we get so wrapped up in being angry we forget what is important.
I think this does a great job of teaching perspective. Somethings we get so wrapped up in being angry we forget what is important.
The art and color tones in this book are delightful, as are the characters. The least likely of friends (owl and rabbit) get along well until simple needs crank up to mindless competition.
I like the details of the illustrations. I think the story can be a little preachy...but when the point is to not try to build your house to be taller than your friends...it gets that way.
Owl and Rabbit are neighbors. They start getting competitive with their homes, but realize that that doesn't lead to happiness. In the end they live together:)
Sweet. Good message with beautiful illustrations reminiscent of the original (pre-Disney) Winnie the Pooh.
Message is solid & well-plotted but not original in idea or execution.
Message is solid & well-plotted but not original in idea or execution.
I know this is a story about friendship, however, these two creatures are natural enemies and their storybook friendship is fairly implausible. Great art!
Good message... together the friends had more (and a better house). Simple story, beautiful illustrations. Would be fun to share with young students.
Gianna Marino has crafted a timeless tale of friendship tested to new heights. Her detailed illustrations are a marvel.
My full review:
http://bit.ly/SJlG0i
My full review:
http://bit.ly/SJlG0i
Absolutely charming book with excellent watercolor illustrations. This is a "feel good" book that teaches an excellent message about friendship.
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