The Magic House. This item is unavailable.The Magic House

In a tale of imagination, younger sister April imagines the stairs turning into a waterfall, the basement turning into a desert, and her older sister, Meredith, turning into a swan.

PreSchool-Grade 2-- April is convinced that her house is magic. A waterfall flows down the stairs, a desert covers the first floor, and two monsters (in the guise of washer and dryer) live in the basement. The only glitch is her big sister, Meredith, who is too mature for this kind of nonsense and is interested in more serious pursuits. When the older girl has a problem getting the right feeling into her role as a swan in an upcoming ballet recital, however, it is April to the rescue. The pool that has been collecting at the bottom of the waterfall in the front hall is the perfect place to imagine being a swan. The sisters share a special moment as Meredith glides over the water, finally realizing the magic of imagination. The dreamlike quality of the illustrations is perfect for this story. Readers see what April is thinking, and Meredith is actually transformed into a swan in the final pages. The book does not leave much to readers' imaginations, but the development of the story hinges on knowing what is in April's mind. Primary graders will be quick to identify with her in the face of a know-it-all older sister, and be encouraged that, despite their range in age, these siblings can still dream together. --Lisa S. Murphy, Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.