Alison's House

Elisabeth Anne MacDonald teaches English at the University of Western
Ontario.

Alison’s House is an entertaining story about a young girl’s
resistance to her family’s plans to move from their old house to a
new, larger one. Alison belongs to a big family that lives in a small
house. When a new baby arrives, Alison’s parents realize that their
expanding family needs more room, and they decide to move. Alison,
however, does not want to leave. When her family moves away, Alison
remains behind in her old home and becomes part of the new, much
smaller, family that now lives there. But Alison misses her big, busy
family and discovers that she loved them, not the house, and so happily
rejoins them.

This book not only celebrates the joys of a large family, but also
deals with a young child’s resistance to change and need to discover
values and priorities. Like many children, Alison clings to her old home
and the security which it represents; but she discovers that it is not
the location but the love of her family which provided that security.

Written for a preschool and primary audience, the colorful
illustrations and humorous story will delight young children, and
parents and librarians will find the book to be not only a good read but
a valuable resource in fostering discussion about change and those
things that make one feel comfortable and secure. Highly recommended.