THE HOUSE OF JOYFUL LIVING

An apartment building in New York City in an earlier era forms the near-perfect world in which a little girl lives, surrounded by the love of her parents and her diverse neighbors. These friends are active in their community and get together often on the rooftop garden to share their experiences, expertise and, of course, their ethnic food. The narrator has always been at the center of it all, basking in her special place. But there’s a baby on the way. Will she be left out, or is there plenty of love to go around? Based on her own early life in just such a city building, Schotter has crafted a sweet, reassuring tale for all those little ones who are facing the uncertainties of changing family dynamics. Widener’s bright, cheerful, stylized illustrations hint at a not-too-distant past that is accessible to today’s young readers and capture just the right mood of a loving, sharing community of family, friends and neighbors. Warm and comforting. (Picture book. 4-8)