Farmhouse - by Sophie Blackall (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A farmhouse where twelve children grow up holds evidence of their stories long after they are gone"--

Book Synopsis

Two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall invites readers to peek through windows that shine like real glass on this lavish book's cover, and explore the dollhouse-like world of a beloved farmhouse where twelve children were born and raised.

Over a hill, at the end of a road, by a glittering stream that twists and turns stands a farmhouse.

Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, best-selling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to a place that echoes with stories.

Review Quotes

Praise for Farmhouse:
A 2022 KIRKUS BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK
A 2022 SLJ BEST BOOK
A HORN BOOK FANFARE
A 2022 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK
A 2022 BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK
A 2022 WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOK
A 2022 NYTIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2022
A 2022 BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST KIDS' BOOKS OF 2022
2023 ALSC NOTABLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
2023 CCBC CHILDREN'S CHOICES LIST
2023 BANK ST COLLEGE BEST BOOKS

*"A sophisticated, openhearted ode to what truly makes a house a home...Vividly realized...."--BookPage, starred review

"a tender, layered masterpiece that itself deserves to be passed along for generations."--New York Times

*"A perfect melding of beautiful art with soulful, imaginative writing, this lovely story, penned by Colebourn's great-great granddaughter, is ideal for sharing aloud or poring over individually."--School Library Journal (Starred Review)

*"Little ones who love Milne's classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear's real-life origins."--Booklist (Starred Review)

*"The book strikes a lovely, understated tone of wonder and family pride...[Sophie Blackall] proves that she's equally imaginative at chronicling straight-on reality too."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Gorgeously illustrated...[a] delightful telling."--New York Times Book Review

"Exquisite"."--Wall Street Journal

Praise for Hello Lighthouse:

A New York Times Bestseller and Caldecott Winner
* "Blackall's charmingly old-fashioned art style is beautifully matched to this nostalgia-rich story, which imbues an antiquated place with warmth and wonder."L--Booklist, starred review

Praise for Finding Winnie:
A #1 New York Times bestseller and Winner of the 2016 Caldecott Medal
A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year

* "A delightful bedtime read perfect for one on one sharing."

--School Library Journal, starred review

* "It's a jewel of a creation and a gift to those who dream of retreat."

--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"I will be surprised if a more exquisite picture book will be published this year...Children will be fascinated..."

--New York Times Book Review

*"The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant."--Horn Book (Starred Review)

* "Genuinely captivating...A meditation on the creative process...Multifaceted and arresting...Irresistible."--Booklist, starred review

*"A love letter to the joys of country living and family life as well as the importance of treasuring the past and all its stories."--School Library Journal, starred review

*"A lovely, tender reimagination of people in a long-past time and place."--Kirkus, starred review

*"Blackall's illustrations are everything here, incorporating wallpaper, fabrics, and other items scavenged from the house melded together with ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil to create vibrantly layered compositions with a tactile quality."--Horn Book, starred review

*"The tale's strong sense of place undergirds Blackall's witness to the way environments change over time and stories survive long after material objects disappear, in a thoughtful, expertly executed work that looks simultaneously forward and back."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Sophie Blackall has illustrated dozens of beautiful books including the Caldecott Medal-winning titles Hello Lighthouse and Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick. She is also the proprietor of Milkwood, a creative retreat housed in a restored dairy barn, adjacent to a falling-down house upon which this book is based. When not at the farm, she lives with her family in Brooklyn, NY. She invites you to visit her on Instagram @SophieBlackall.