The mountain who wanted to live in a house by Maurice Shadbolt
Ill. by Renee Haggo. Starfish Bay, 2016. ISBN 9781760360023
(Age: 5-7) Maurice Shadbolt's unusual tale begins with a lonely
mountain, people come to climb on it, and they watch the birds
flitting in the trees. However, no one considers that it has
feelings and desires. The mountain watches over the nearby town and
longs to be inside at night, in the warmth of a house. This is a
most unusual request and as if by magic, the mountain begins to
move, towards to the town with a rumbling, tumbling sound, over the
pine forests scaring the birds and townsfolk. As they hurry away in
their cars, one young boy bravely questions the mountain looking for
an answer to the threat. Michael listens to the mountain's story of
his loneliness and watches as snow tears fall down to make two
lakes. Thomas ponders the problem and comes up with an ingenious
solution drawing from an idea about jumpers shrinking in the wash.
Washing the mountain presents a problem and so does building a
shelter, so with the help of Michael's father an artist the perfect
solution is found. Michael shows courage, determination and
creativity in this story.
Renee Huggo's paintings use earthy tones and suggestions of human
characteristics to show the mountain alive - grey clouds for toes
and a carved rocky face. This is a curious picture book for a more
discerning reader.
The Mountain who wanted to live in a house provides a
starting point in class to discuss cause and effect, to write an
alternate solution for the mountain's problem and to discuss
anthropomorphism in simple terms.
Rhyllis Bignell