The House of Lost and Found - by Martin Widmark (Hardcover)

About the Book

A little boy who lives all alone in a big dirty house filled with the memories of the people who lived there before stars in this emotive and haunting story about overcoming loss and finding hope. Full color.

Book Synopsis

Pixar's blockbuster UP meets Coraline in this atmospheric and emotional story.

Niles lives all alone in a big dirty house filled with memories of the people who used to live there.

Then one day, a little boy appears on his doorstep and asks Niles to take care of his plant. Astonished, Niles takes the pot of dirt, and wonders what to do with it.

As a seedling appears, Niles realizes how empty and lonely his house is and begins to care for the plant, his house and himself. By the time the little boy returns his flower has bloomed into a beautiful poppy and Niles, and his house, are filled with hope again.

This beautiful and uplifting story of loss and hope by Martin Widmark is accompanied by stunning, atmospheric illustrations by Emilia Dziubak, which capture Niles's journey from loneliness to friendship.

Review Quotes

'A beautifully scripted, illustrated, and uplifting picture book.' --Midwest Book Review

'This book is hands down one of my top five, favorite children's books of 2018... This book is full of hope and just a wonderful story. The illustrations are stunning! This is definitely a book that I want to keep in our home library. 5 stars.' --Mischenko, Goodreads Reviewer

'In this complex and mature tale of reawakening, pages boast dark, richly detailed illustrations aglow with deftly conjured light.' --Booklist Online

'Widmark's melancholy story about loneliness gains atmosphere and, ultimately, lift from Dziubak's beautiful illustrations, hand-drawn using colored pencils. Children will pore over the details and delight as Niles banishes murky darkness with light... Lovely.' --Kirkus Reviews

'An absolutely fantastic book, which truly left me speechless. It is a book that talks about loss, about finding hope, and of new beginnings, with extraordinary illustrations and a simple, yet very profound text. It is the kind of book that captures every reader, young and old, and definitely one of a kind.' --Our World of Wonder

'Emilia Dziubak's illustrations contrast the gloom and doom of the old man's sorrowful and lacking life in his rundown house with the life and comfort that just one flower and one little boy can bring. The old man's despair is common in life and the story of his renewal is told and illustrated with compassion and hope.' --Vermont Country Sampler

'Hand-drawn illustrations done in colored pencils are rendered in gloomy drab colors until the plant sprouts - then the light comes in. Niles washes windows, mops and cleans; his life has been transformed. The illustrations are dreamy, reminding me of Rembrandt, each one a work of art... Perfect.' --Youth Services Book Review

'This was such a sweet book... The book has gorgeous illustrations throughout and it is mostly a picture book that follows the old man in his home. The detail is AMAZING and I loved spending time on each page to look through all the details. The story made me tear up a little at the end, it was very uplifting and a wonderful read. I think both parents and kids will really enjoy reading this one together.' --Cover2cover Blog

'The change in Niles is striking. He sees life with one perspective - colorless. When forced to entertain a pot of dirt with a seed, his perspective changes to include light, cleanliness, neighbors, books, happy memories, and even the return of his long-lost cat. This change is from one single outlook to an openness to a life of color.' --World of Words

About the Author

Martin Widmark is the bestselling Swedish children's author of over 100 books. His titles consistently top Sweden's bestseller lists and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Before becoming a full-time author, Martin worked as a middle-school teacher and a Swedish language teacher for immigrants, and now uses his experiences to promote reading and literacy for young people. Emilia Dziubak is an award-winning artist from Poland. She is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan and has illustrated numerous children's picture books that have been translated into many languages. She is the illustrator of USBBY- listed The House of Lost and Found, as well as Little Pearl and Dreams of Near and Far, also co-created with Martin Widmark.