Julia's House Goes Home

Julia's House #3

by Ben Hatke

Julia and her house full of fantastic friends are on the move, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Ben Hatke.

Julia's flying house has come down to earth...and sprouted legs! Now it roams the landscape looking for the perfect spot to settle down. But just as Julia spots the Perfect Spot, off in the distance—her walking house trips! It tumbles down a steep mountain side, and Julia and her creatures are scattered across the hills while her runaway home continues rolling off on an adventure of its own. Now it's up to Julia to gather up her found family and track down her house, and maybe find that Perfect Spot once and for all.

With surprises around every corner and new creatures galore, master storyteller Ben Hatke weaves a moving and satisfying final episode for Julia's House, completing the trilogy of three picture books.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Monsters, Adventure

42 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2021

About the author

Ben Hatke is an author and illustrator of graphic novels and picture books. Most notably he is the creator of the Zita the Spacegirl graphic novel series.

He posts art and stories online at:

www.benhatke.com

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my favorite in the series (it felt more like a combination of the first two, rather than a truly new adventure and I missed the humor from the first two) it did tie up nicely and I appreciate the focus on ingenuity, perseverance, seeing something in a new light, repurposing... and, of course, providing a warm welcome. I heartily recommend the series -- it does work best to read them in order, but if you can only get them out of order, they can still be enjoyed separately.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh wow. I just finished reading Julia's House Goes Home, the third book in a trilogy of picturebooks...and by the end, I was literally in tears. It was such a cathartic, emotional & perfect conclusion to Julia's story! I am in AWE of how powerful these short books are. They're wonderful for kids, full of fabulously imaginative creatures and fun, but they also carry such an intense emotional punch for adults. I love this series so much! And I highly recommend them for adults as well as children.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful, the colors, the artwork, the storyline, it was all brilliant and I really loved it.

Good story about friendship, inclusion and helping others. I think I would have enjoyed having this read to me as a young child. The colors are bright, the characters are active and you can sense the movement of them as they travel to the new home. The story is sweet and heartwarming and the new home looks so amazing, I would love to live there too!

4, sweet solid, stars!

My thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful themes and great art work. I really enjoy this series.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia's house is on the move and Julia thinks she's found the perfect spot to settle. Unfortunately, when the house stumbles on the high hills, everyone falls out and is scattered. Although Julia is undeterred, she begins to seriously worry that she won't have room for everyone who wants a home. This is the third picture book about Julia who is a wonderfully generous and kindhearted character and the ending is a perfectly satisfying conclusion to the series.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free digital ARC from First Second Books. This 3rd book in the Julia’s House Picture Book series is just another fabulous addition by Hatke. Julia’s house starts to fall apart and Julia is thrown from the house. As she travels she starts finding other friends of hers that fell from the house. She also makes additional friends along the way. Will there be a home for all the lost creatures by the end? This Can be read in series or as a standalone. The story is powerful either way, also the art is phenomenal once again. Best for ages 4-7. Highly recommended.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice conclusion to the trilogy but the story doesn't have much tension. Hatke does cute very well, and these illustrations are charming, I just wish the story was as engaging.

[Diana-christie Biancardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

He needs to write more books! I think I've read them all. I loved the mermaid.

[Kimberly Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 2023: 5/5 - Soo stinking cute. What a wonderful world welcoming all the lost creatures to join Julia.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from First Second Books through NetGalley.
Delightful continuation of this story. It's finally time for Julia's house to find a new home. She spots the perfect location but it is quite a trip to get down the hills. Unfortunately, the house trips and rolls and Julia is tossed off. Readers see her find her way out of a dark tunnel and meet up with her creatures along the way. In fact, she gathers so many creatures - new and old - that she doesn't think they will fit. As readers may predict, the house shattered after the rough trip and the perfect spot is not as perfect as she thought. However, the creatures are ecstatic and get started on building new homes for everyone. In fact, they build a whole town and call it - Julia's Town.
Lovely illustrations capture the different creatures. The text and illustrations show the love and acceptance they feel toward each other. Readers see each creature accepted for who they are and welcomed to live in the home together. Perfect book to emphasize celebrating uniqueness and working together to make life better.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, I love the Julia books! I don't know why they almost always make me cry--they're not supposed to be sad, but they're so sweet. They're great for bundles on magical creatures. In this story, Julia and her creature friends get separated from their house. As they try to catch up, they regroup and pick up new friends along the way. Julia is welcoming but scared they won't all fit. The end is so sweet as they find there isn't much left of their magical house anyway, and as always, they join together to build a new home--this time a town for all their new friends. The message of inclusivity and community support was just so cute. I love all the whimsical characters (Patched Up Kitty!) and the art style. Always a fan!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming book about Julia and her house, that is in search of the perfect place to call home. But the path to the glittering spot in the distance is rocky and rough - so there's a bit of a mishap, resulting in a lot of lost creatures along the way. However, as Julia tries to find her way back to the house, she keeps coming across more and more lost creatures in need of a home. Will she really be able to house everyone?

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel is good too!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, whimsical tale of the ever-impressive Julia, whose “House for Lost Creatures'', after moving on in the middle book of this trilogy, tires of roaming the high hills. Julia sees The Perfect Spot in the distance, but the house rolls down the craggy mountain - without Julia! Down she falls, into a Deep, Dark Place. She follows a tunnel and begins her trek, collecting creatures along the way - some familiar, and some charming additions. “We’ll make room!" is Julia’s refrain, but as her parade of fantastical friends grows ever longer, she begins to worry. The Perfect Spot turns out to be… not perfect. But when she apologizes for letting the curious creatures down, they assure her they have all they need. Together, they create not just a new home, but Julia’s Town - with room for everyone. There is much to love in this story, and the detailed illustrations will inspire children to notice new details with the turn of each page.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia's House for Lost Creatures takes a disastrous tumble down a mountainside on search for a permanent location.

This picture book continues the story from Julia's House Moves On, and it focuses on the burden of leadership in the midst of uncertainty and unexpected problems. Having forgotten what she learned about working together and sharing responsibilities in Book 1, Julia tries to shoulder everything herself. When she reached the end and admits what she perceives as defeat, her band of mythical creatures pool their talents and use the available resources to rebuild.

The moral is that one does not have to go it alone, things don’t always go according to plan, and all’s well that ends well.

The illustrations are charming.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you read Julia's House for Lost Creatures? Ah - well, you can read this one without reading that first. But it will make more sense if you read it first. You see, Julia has a sign on her house that means all lost and homeless creatures are welcome. And soon, she has gathered quite an assortment! But one day, the house needed a home. And so it started to move but hit a rocky spot and tumbled over and over, tossing Julia out. All she had was her sign. So she begins to look for her house and her friends. She finds cat and gradually a few others. " On and on they marched, and everywhere it was the same. Old friends found. New friends joining in." Julia is worried. Worried they won't find the house. Worried there won't be enough room. But, in the end, there really was nothing to worry about after all. A lovely, lovely book. One person's junkyard...

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia's house has been wandering for a while, but then Julia spots the Perfect Spot. The house is eager to get there, but it trips. Julia falls out, but she's determined to find everyone again. She follows a trail of debris, and it turns out her friends have found other lost creatures, and they can't wait to all live together in Julia's wonderful house. But the more debris she finds, the more uncertain Julia becomes. What if she has no house to share anymore?

This one touches my heart (might be crying again as I write this review). A warm reminder that sometimes when you've pushed yourself to your limit, others will be there to help, and sometimes what seems like an awful ending is actually a beautiful beginning. A fantastic addition to the Julia's House series. A great ending, but I hope there will be more books to come anyway.

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Julia's House Goes Home by Ben Hatke was a lovely installment in this picture book series about a girl who cares for all manner of fantastical creatures by letting them stay in her house. This one felt the most like a conclusion to the characters' story, but we can always hope for more. ;-) Hatke has a way of making you feel for the characters in such a short amount of pages, and most of them not saying a word. All of these books have Hatke's charming and whimsical art and are completely heartfelt and heartwarming, making you want to cuddle up with your own family, "blood" or "found" alike. Loved this and so grateful to have read it early!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Hatke stories about Julia. I like that she makes everyone feel welcome, regardless of who they are or where they came from. In this story Julia, the house, and the lost creatures are trying to find a new perfect spot to settle. Unfortunately, everyone gets separated.. We see Julia and all the lost creatures, new and old, search for the house and the perfect spot. It's a great lesson is perseverance and friendship. Love Hatke's illustrations. (Read a digital ARC via Netgalley.)

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I criiiiiied! I read this and Julia's House Moves On today, and I just cried so hard!

The Layers! (Ain't nobody don't like no parfait!) The obstacles, the slough of despair, the friends we made along the way.... It's Pilgrim's Progress for Inclusion. It's a grief journey. And it's what happens when something hits your family and it spins out of control. So. Many. Metaphors. I will come back to these and I bet I'll learn something new every time.

Make sure to read all three books in order, and have tissues on hand. Thank you, Ben, for letting us join you on the journey.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

A sweet, gentle, found family of monsters that the whole family can enjoy. My kids are loving this series, and this third installment was no exception. The art is still gorgeous and the creatures varied. I love how they all work together when things look bleak. Definitely recommend this adorable series to all monster and creature lovers.

[Donna Maguire]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 28th September 2021 – publication day!

I really enjoyed this book!

The illustrations were lovely and it was a really fun read.

I like the mix of characters that Julia gathering on her journey too.

It’s a really positive read – it was easy to follow and understand.

I read it with my four-year-old daughter and she loved the story.

It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia, her house, and all the inhabitants are looking for a new spot of land to settle down. A bit of a tumble separates the residents and Julia, and as they slowly regroup and add more creatures looking for a home Julia starts to wonder if she’s promised them more than she can deliver. Will there really be enough room for everyone? And what kind of shape is her house in after that tumble?

I love the sentiment of this story. Julia and her friends have big hearts, and when Julia’s vision for how to make things work falters, they pick her up and help her out. Some adults reading to sensitive readers may want to know that there are friendly ghosts in a somewhat spooky graveyard who want to join the household, so know they audience you read this to and whether their imaginations can handle it. The message of the story is overall heartwarming and leaves you with warm fuzzies. And of course, Ben Hatke’s illustrations are as enchanting as ever.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joseph Wetterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Hatke completes this little trilogy beautifully. Julia's "perfect spot" is less than perfect, as often our dreams and plans turn out to be, but with faith and help from those we love, there is hope and beauty there. I love that Julia doesn't know the end but takes one step at a time, literally; as St. John Henry Newman wrote, "one step enough for me". In the end, our little good works can be multiplied and there is room for all the lost under that one sign.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series. Julia finds the perfect place for her house, but something happens on the way and all the residents/inhabitants get scattered. Julia gathers up the people and the pieces until she finds her house. Unfortunately, it's not livable. She's despondent that she's promised a place to all the people following her, but they build a village for everyone to live in.

A good story about finding a way and working together.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to start doing more research when checking out children's books at the library because I did not realize that this was the third book in a series... Now I need to go back and read books 1 and 2 because I really enjoyed this book! I picked up this book because I absolutely loved the cover!

I could tell when I was reading it that I probably messed up because I felt like there was definitely more to the story. I will definitely be requesting the other two books from the library ASAP!!!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for this lovely ARC.

I read Julia’s House Goes Home with my 7 year old daughter and we both thoroughly enjoyed. The whimsical illustrations were the highlight of the story and we enjoyed taking our time and pointing out all of the magical creatures.

The message was positive and hopeful. It was a lovely picture book.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay okay, I know Ben talked me through the illustrations for this a while back, but now I've officially read it myself. He has continued with his impressive illustrations and world building/connecting background details that are so rich and delightful, and he has offered up a lovely story to boot. This whole picture book trilogy is essential on any shelf.

[Robin Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While beautifully illustrated, this seems redundant and the same storyline as the previous books.
This time, the house accidentally gets destroyed falling down a rocky hill, and as the group travels looking for the house they add more magical creatures. The creatures work together and build a new creation: Julia's Town.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The house gets up and walks, then stumbles down a mountain. Julia and the other creatures get thrown out. Julia tries to catch up with the house, meeting new creatures on the way. She begins to wonder how they'll all fit.

The art is still great. But I would have liked some of the creatures besides Julia to have personalities.