A Room to Grow In (Paperback)

Hidden on the top story of an old house on Willow Street sits an extraordinary little round room with a ceiling shaped like a tower. The sign on the door reads “Storage Room.” Inside the little room is dark and musty and filled with piles of boxes. Cobwebs gather on its walls, and a fireplace and rotting leaves coat its once shining skylight.

The room feels neglected and forgotten.

The room wasn’t always so sad. Once it was a bright, cheerful place loved by children. Laughter bounced off its walls, and sunlight streamed through the skylight. The room was happy then. It had a purpose and a place in children’s hearts.

When a new family moves into the house, the room meets eight-year-old Jaya. The little room desperately wants to be the one she picks for her very own room. But how can it convince Jaya to see past its darkness and dirt. Convincing her will take determination—and just a little luck.

Written by interior designer Constance Gottlieb, A Room To Grow In, introduces young readers to the joy of finding their own special place.

“Do rooms like children need to be loved and cared for? What happens when they’re not?”

Constance Gottlieb is a college professor, interior designer, and writer. She has researched, developed, and taught numerous courses at Nassau Community College in New York state, and mentored many young designers.

As a designer, Gottlieb loves helping clients create homes that match their values and meet their unique needs. She feels every child's room is a special place, and enjoys using children's ideas and preferences to design their perfect rooms.

Gottlieb and her husband live and work in New York City and the Hamptons. They have traveled across Europe and Asia, and frequently visit their son and grandchildren in Rhode Island.