The Yellow House

by Blake Morrison, Helen Craig (Illustrator)

A favorite back in print! A child discovers, in the old house and overgrown garden she passes every day, that wonders wait in secret.

One day, on the way to the park, a little girl climbs the gate of an old yellow house. Although no one has lived there for a very long time, a little boy suddenly appears before her. "Come and play with me," he beckons. He leads her through an enchanted garden, showing her all its marvelous inhabitants: a tiger playing with its cubs in the long grass, a dolphin leaping in the goldfish pond, a pelican roosting high in the apple tree. Then the mysterious boy is gone, the girl’s mother is calling, and all is as it was before. In this well-loved picture book, Blake Morrison and Helen Craig bring us to a place where, for a moment, magic is real.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Blake Morrison was educated at Nottingham University, McMaster University and University College, London. After working for the Times Literary Supplement, he went on to become literary editor of both The Observer and the Independent on Sunday before becoming a full-time writer in 1995.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and former Chair of the Poetry Book Society and Vice-Chair of PEN, Blake has written fiction, poetry, journalism, literary criticism and libretti, as well as adapting plays for the stage. His best-known works are probably his two memoirs, "And When Did You Last See Your Father?" and "Things My Mother Never Told Me."

Since 2003, Blake has been Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College. He lives in south London, with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better known for his Creative Writing years at Goldsmiths as well as his voluminous roles in editing, poetry and memoir writing this is, as far as I know, Morrison's only children's story. In this picturebook, illustrated by Helen Craig, a young girl passes an abandoned yellow house with her mother and baby sister. One day she finds an excuse to leave her mother for a moment and explore. Upon entering, a young boy guides her around the site and invites her into the house but try as she might, she cannot enter and so heads back to her mother's safety.

I want to know more of what is happening in this odd little tale. I understand the appeal and curiosity that comes with abandoned places for anyone but especially for a child and that desire to explore away from the safety of a parent yet the ending is odd and unsettling...

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely illustrated simple story about the power of imagination.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1987 in Great Britain, this wonderful story celebrates the magical power of imagination.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was all going along just swimmingly (fun pictures, imaginative storyline, pleasing font) until the last few pages (starting with the little boy not opening the door) which were confusing and disconcerting. My seven-year old grandson and I just looked at each other, perplexed, as I turned the last page. He had some theories of what was going on, but even so, neither of us felt settled.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents read this with me as a child and I sometimes think of it. I just googled it and pleased to see it's still in print given I was very young when it came out, it really made an impression of special mystery and stayed with me.

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A favorite back in print! A child discovers, in the old house and overgrown garden she passes every day, that wonders wait in secret. One day, on the way to the park, a little girl climbs the gate of an old yellow house. Although no one has lived there for a very long time, a little boy suddenly appears before her. "Come and play with me," he beckons. He leads her through an enchanted garden, showing her all its marvelous inhabitants: a tiger playing with its cubs in the long grass, a dolphin leaping in the goldfish pond, a pelican roosting high in the apple tree. Then the mysterious boy is gone, the girl's mother is calling, and all is as it was before. In this well-loved picture book, Blake Morrison and Helen Craig bring us to a place where, for a moment, magic is real.

Lovely illustrations and great font! This book will work well for a pre-school storytime, but would be too long for most toddlers.

Author Notes
Blake Morrison, the author of fiction, poetry, journalism, literary criticism, and libretti, is perhaps best known for his two memoirs: And When Did You Last See Your Father? and Things My Mother Never Told Me. He lives in London. Helen Craig is a widely acclaimed illustrator of books for children, including Phyllis Root's Thirsty Thursday, Philippa Pearce's A Finder's Magic, and the hugely popular stories about Angelina Ballerina. She lives in England.

[Tahya Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting children's book. I feel like this book is creative and can really help a child bring out their imagination and let it go wild. This book really put me in the mind of an actual kid doing this and what a kid would actually think they were seeing. I think that kids would really enjoy this book because of the pictures, the plot of it, and everything. I personally would recommend this book.

[Elisabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

creepy creepy

[Mandy E · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine exploration of imagination, but lacks a satisfying ending, I'm afraid.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated but a very strange story...