Toots and the Upside-Down House

Toots #1

by Carol Hughes, John Steven Gurney

If only Toots hadn't been so angry with her father. If only she hadn't run home by herself. If only she hadn't seen the fairy on the ceiling. . . .

But then again, if things had been different, Toots's whole world wouldn't literally have been turned upside-down. And she would never have had the most amazing adventure. . . .

A rare, special book, Toots and the Upside-Down House combines fantasy and adventure with the real, everyday issues of love and loss. This is a dazzling debut novel, one that children--and parents--will return to again and again.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Carol Hughes grew up in England, in a seaside town where her parents kept a small hotel. When she got older, she went to art school to study painting. Not long afterward, she moved to the United States and began writing. She now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts of my grandmother reading stories, from our great big blue book, came to mind, as I read this book. I loved grandma to read me books with brownies, and other creatures, who came to life at night.

Toots has run home to find her teddy bear, Fred. She finds comfort in holding and talking with Fred. Toot's dad doesn't pay attention to her, or listen to her, and she wonders if her dad loves her. He pays more attention to his stamp collection, than he does to her.

Toots is on the floor looking at the ceiling, when she spots a tiny door, and a little creature. The creature, Olive, pulls Toots up to the ceiling, and she becomes tiny, and the adventure begins. Through this adventure Toots and her father both learn they need to share, and show their love for each other.

This is a good story.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspiring story that took me to another dimension. Had it not been for Paige I wouldn't have expanded my outlook on things or understood where her roots came from. Toots and the Upside-down House was a great, short, captivating read that I will not soon forget

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most charming books I have read in a long time. Toots, a young girl left to her own devises discovers a world right inside her every own house with fairies who would like to take over the entire house, not just the attic.

[Mailis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Osaliselt vahvalt lapselik ning põnev, samas mõneti liigselt keerulise sõnakasutusega nooremate põnnide jaoks ehk tõlgitud. Võibolla, et väga nõrga närvikavaga lastele võib ta kohati õudusjutuna tunduda, aga midagi nüüd veriselt kohutavat ka ei juhtu.