The House of Four Seasons - by Roger Duvoisin (Hardcover)

About the Book

When a family buys a new house, each member has a different idea of what color to paint it.

Book Synopsis

By the author of the bestselling picture book Petunia, The House of Four Seasons is a bright and lively family picture book about colors, imagination, and compromise

When Father, Mother, Billy, and Suzy go house hunting in the country, they fall in love with a grand old house nestled among tall weeds and trees. It is in need of repair, and soon a carpenter, mason, and tinsmith come to set things straight, but it needs painting too. The family agrees it would be more fun to paint the house themselves, but no one can agree on the color, and to make matters worse, the hardware store only carries three colors: red, blue, and yellow. But Father has an idea. "You'll see, he says, "colors can do many tricks when they get together," and with a sudden flourish, a color wheel appears! Budding artists and engineers will love this surprising story, and adults would do well to note how Father arrives at a winning trifecta of negotiation, education, and thrift.

Review Quotes

"Roger Duvoisin's art remains fresh, and his work has lasting appeal, largely because of his affection and respect for his audience." --Susan A. Burgess

"Nice for any season." --Kirkus Reviews

"Children's author/illustrator extraordinaire Roger Duvoisin reminds us in his 1956 classic, The House of Four Seasons, that winter won't be here forever." --Picture Book Illustration Blog

"One of my favourite books when I was a small gal...lovely.... A beautiful book." --Meet Me at Mike's Blog

"Duvoisin's story was published over forty years ago, but it is as fresh as the day it was published." --Cathie Hilterbran Cooper, Color and Shape Books for All Ages

"[Duvoisin's] career as an author and illustrator is immense.... Duvoisin's art evolves throughout his illustrious 48-year career.... The characters are marvelous, including their faces and their backsides! His use of color is vibrant and striking." --Three Books a Night Blog

About the Author

Roger Duvoisin (1900-1980) was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated from the École des Arts et Métiers and the École des Beaux-Arts. In the late 1920s, he immigrated to the United States, where he soon began writing and illustrating children's books. The author of more than forty of his own books, Duvoisin also collaborated with many writers, including his wife, Louise Fatio Duvoisin, and Alvin Tresselt, with whom he won a Caldescott Medal for White Snow, Bright Snow in 1948 and the Caldecott Honor Award for Hide and Seek Fog in 1966.