Summerhouse

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Grandma’s laugh is infectious—to everyone, that is, except Ella.
Ella is much too quiet and serious. One day Grandma decides to remedy
this. She gives Ella the key to her summerhouse, built long ago when she
and Ella’s grandpa first came to Canada from their island home. Inside
the summerhouse, Ella finds an enchanted land of magical sights and
sounds and smells and feelings to warm her heart and put a smile on her
face. Now when Grandma and the others laugh, Ella laughs, too.

Readers young and old will pore over this picture book again and again,
enjoying both the gentle, fanciful story and Lynne Russell’s stunning
illustrations. Just looking at her scenes of the Caribbean is enough to
brighten up even the wintriest of days. Highly recommended.