Welcome to the Wonder House

by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Georgia Heard, Deborah Freedman (Illustrator)

This collection of poems, creatively presented in the format of an allegorical house, will engage anyone who has ever wondered “why?” as it shows young readers that wonder is everywhere—in yourself and in the world around you.

Welcome to the Wonder House, a place to explore the cornerstone of every great thinker—a sense of wonder. This Wonder House has many rooms—one for nature, one for quiet, and one for mystery, among others. Each room is filled with poems and objects covering a wide variety of STEAM topics, including geology, paleontology, physics, astronomy, creative writing, and drawing, that will inspire curiosity in young readers.

This enchanting book written by award-winning poets Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard and illustrated by Deborah Freedman both sparks wonder and shows readers how to kindle it in themselves.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Stem, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 11, 2023

About the author

Rebecca is a poet and picture book author of such titles as What is Science? (a 2006 Subaru SB&F prize finalist), and Lemonade Sun (an American Booksellers "Pick of the Lists"). Her work is featured widely in poetry anthologies and textbooks. Rebecca promotes children's poetry, giving presentations and workshops to students, teachers, librarians and writers. She lives in Indiana.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of children’s poetry really inspired me to try my hand at poetry again and to create quiet moments to ponder and appreciate.

[Gary Anderson]

Welcome to the Wonder House presents poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard on double-page spreads devoted to “rooms” in the Wonder House. Each room is dedicated to a concept that inspires wonder, and the poems adhere to each room’s theme. Dotlich and Heard provide two or three poems for the rooms of curiosity, pride, ordinary things, creatures, nature, science, time, place, quiet, imagination, mystery, and wishes. Deborah Freedman’s colorful multi-media illustrations are an appealing blend of concrete and abstract images. Although I like many of the poems and illustrations, I’m not sure the rooms-in-a-house metaphor quite holds together in this collection, partly because it isn’t fully developed, and also because some of the poems and illustrations could easily be swapped into “rooms” other than the one in which they appear. The poems use a variety of forms and can serve as models for writers of all ages, and the final page spread encourages readers to “grab a / notebook, gaze out a window, follow a / meandering creek, sit on a step, / and look and / listen to the ordinary and the extraordinary / all around you.”

[Seher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the chance to read this very sweet book!

I don't know if I'm the right person to review this, I definitely missed the bit where it was for younger readers! That being said, I think the authors put in a lot of effort into this very bright and pretty book. There was a lot in there to encourage little ones to explore and think about different things!

[Hany entre letras · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I wonder if someone is watching me wondering?”

I don't know why I expected this to be a book with the answers of mysteries or facts. So when I get some poetry I was a little off.

It's wonderful illustrated. i loved every color, texture and draw.

The poems also where very beautiful. I think Room of mystery is my favorite room and poems.

My advice is to read each room for day and not everything at once, this way the book will be more enjoyable.

“Keep an open heart, that's where curiosity likes to start”

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poems do indeed make one wonder. They are all written based on 12 topics set in 12 rooms. For example the first poems come from the Room of Curiosity. The beauful and colorful illustrations really set off this book. This would be a great book for a teacher to read to students and inspire them to wonder.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
What a beautiful book- poems by two amazing poets accompanied by Deborah Freedman’s lovely artwork. I can see this being used as a springboard for many creative activities for both readers and listeners.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the Wonder House, published in 2023, was written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard and illustrated by Deborah Freedman. In 2024 this book won the Pennsylvania Center for the Book award.

This themed anthology book of poems contains a range of poems, by various authors, around a specific focus: rooms in the Wonder House. Themed rooms include: curiosity, nature, imagination, and wishes. Some poems rhyme, some are freeform. Some poems are shorter, some poems are longer.

I thought this was a fantastic and quick read. It is so imaginative! Within the poems, it asks many questions children may wonder about in everyday life. This would be a great book for younger readers as a lesson introduction read aloud. There are some bigger words within the poems, such as entomologist, which may be difficult for young children to decode. A main focus of the poems is on STEM. A teacher or student can choose a question in the book, such as ‘what is quartz?’, research to find the answer, and create a multimedia presentation, such as a diorama or powerpoint, to share. It would also be great independent reading for older readers, especially those who are interested in STEM subjects.

I found this book on the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website (https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awar...). I read the book through Kindle. The pictures were clear and the text was easily read. The book has several two page spreads with colorful, vibrant images that nicely compliment each of the poems. Therefore, it would be best to view this book in its physical form or on a bigger screen digitally to ensure the full spread can be seen for optimal enjoyment.

[Kaitlyn Stemmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the Wonder House By Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich is a children’s poetry book where each poem follows a themed room of wonder. Some examples of the rooms are nature, time, and wishes, in total there are 12 rooms of wonder featured in this book. Each room features a couple of poems from each of the authors that fit the theme. This book does a great job of conveying the ideas and feelings associated with the themes of the rooms through the magic of poetry. I really enjoyed this book and the poems present. I think you could use this book in any classroom and could definitely use the poems separate from each other, as they just connect to the theme of the room but are not inherently connected to each other. This book is set up to receive ncte horrors in 2024, and the author Georgia Heard was named the NCTE Award of Excellence in Poetry for Children winner.

[Lisa Gisèle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I adore poetry, and whenever I find a book, I have the potential to give kids a fun introduction, I get giddy.

This is one such book.

To quote Gorgia Heard, " Hail to the hair-raising, hideous,weird and wild."

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book of poetry, by two amazing poets, about the wonders of the world.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems groups loosely together by types of wonderings: time, place, imagination, nature
Love that there is a circle poem
Love the penguin looking into microscope on front cover & inside for poems of quiet
Love the illustrations a mood of the colors on each page with its own background color
Would’ve liked poetry more as kid if we had poetry books like this for kids today

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole collaboration is lovely.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2 page spreads for each room are just beautiful. The layout of poems in each room adds a touch of beauty through words too. The focus on curiosity and wonder pulls me in even as an adult reader. Definitely a book to share with the children in your life!

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a book that explores a variety of topics that revolve around wondering? Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard is a perfect book to explore themes of staying curious and to go adventure into the outside world. It appeals to anyone who may like to be in nature or see new places, animals or things. Look for this book in your local library today!

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Welcome to the Wonder House” by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard showcases a collection of mesmerizing poems that ingeniously portrays an allegorical house, captivating readers with its thought-provoking exploration of the eternal question of “why?”. This extraordinary book serves as a powerful reminder that awe and fascination can be discovered in every nook and cranny, within ourselves and in the vast expanse of our surroundings. Get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey through wonder!

The Wonder House features various rooms, each dedicated to different themes such as nature, quietness, and mystery. Through poems and objects, the authors cover a wide range of STEAM topics, including geology, paleontology, physics, astronomy, creative writing, and drawing. This diverse compilation aims to inspire curiosity among young readers.

Written by award-winning poets Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard, this enchanting book not only sparks wonder but also provides guidance on how to cultivate it within oneself. The authors’ poetic prowess shines through the pages of this captivating read.

The book’s aesthetic is truly beautiful. As someone who doesn’t typically read a lot of poetry, I was drawn to its charm. The soft watercolor illustrations complement the overall vibe of the book perfectly. The poems themselves are written in short free verse form, which adds to their appeal. My favorite poem was from “Room of Science.”

In conclusion, Welcome to the Wonder House is a delightful book that combines poetry with exploration. Its elegant illustrations and thought-provoking verses make it a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and wonder in their lives.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in itself is a wonder. Opening its pages, readers enter not just a house but a mansion full of wonder! Each spread contains poems by noted poets Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard, illuminated by illustrator Deborah Freedman. Rooms include Curiosity, Praise, Creatures, Science, Imagination, Mystery, and others. For example, in the Room of Ordinary Things, Kai Dotlich writes, "This stone/has a secret and mysterious life....," Heard writes, "A gnarled stick/clutched in my hand can be://a thin shovel...." Both poems are undergirded by Freedman's illustrations that show things mentioned in the poem while adding an ethereal quality. The final spread, "A Note About WONDER," is a poem by both poets, encouraging readers to to seek and share the wonders around them. This uplifting book will give readers new eyes to see their own worlds and demonstrates the imaginative ways that their finds can be expressed.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich have invited us to "The Wonder House" full of twelve rooms of poetry and wonder. Twenty-nine poems are brought to life (and wonder) through the words and Deborah Freedman's dream-like illustrations. Come visit the "Room of Creatures" and discover "Bodies loose and limp–", or open the door to the "Room of Praise", where "rain is everything/to a worm". Page after page fill with topics perhaps you've "wondered" before or perhaps you'll think, "How special to imagine that!" They end with a final poem invitation for various actions, ways to choose one's own kind of wondering, like "Begin a poem" or "Take a wonder walk." I can't imagine NOT having this and sharing it with a class or only one child. I am inspired to "wonder", too!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. I’m not a huge poetry fan, but the fact that they were STEAM related poems was interesting. I would probably recommend this more to a teacher or parent, rather than a K-3rd reader. Some of the poems have difficult words (example: ornithologist, entomologist, etc.) any they may be hard for a young reader. The illustrations are clear and flow along with what little text there is. Honestly, the mixed media illustrations are what kept me going in this book.

[Madison Manes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of poems. I think it is important for students to have a great selection of styles of books, this one being included. It can open their mind up to different writing styles and rhyming. I think younger readers would enjoy reading these poems as well as the illustrations. It is very eye appealing which can lead to wanting to read further. I think students would love this book.

[Alivia Boothe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to the Wonder House is a good book. This book is an example of children’s poetry and does a great job! The poem is very imaginative which young children will really enjoy. The realistic illustrations are very well done and catch the reader's attention, which is very important for young children. The story being based in nature is great, and children will love it! I would recommend this book!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, short book of poetry for children around the topic of wondering about science and nature. The poems tend towards short and free verse, and multimedia art (it appears to be digital) accompanies the poetry. None of the poems really spoke to me but your little one may enjoy them and the book has a lovely tone.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Domenic Nacarato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very lovely, I love how their are different rooms labeled with Rooms like Nature, Creatures, Time, and much more having different settings, topics, and descriptions. I love how each page is a different room giving each page a different type of variety and creativeness to it. I feel like this book is recommended for everyone it is such a great book.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the topics of these poems and how the poets chose to explore them. There are some real standouts in here. I wish the formatting was a little less poetic--it made the book seem older and need some adult interpretation.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big poetry reader, but this short book of poems for children was delightfully imaginative. Separated out like different rooms of a house, with each room focusing on a different abstract concept, the conceit of this book is very clever and the illustrations add an ethereal quality.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not just fun to read, it is fun to use as a mentor text for your own (or your students') writing!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful addition to the poetry tub.

[Earth&Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A string of small poetic moments of curiosity and awe.

[Gabriel Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short collection of poems has a lot of fun interplay between poems that could be rich for literary analysis.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

poems

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/25/2023 ~ I LOVE the names of the rooms, the ways in which the poems embody the rooms, and the amazing illustrations. So many ways to invite students into poetry writing with this framework.