Description: Breathe in fresh country air and dream of a slower, simpler life in this poetic story about building a homestead with heart from bestselling novelist Melissa Ferguson. Our Friendly Farmhouse will inspire families to dream together and set out on their own adventures in intentional, country living.
Brief description: Gretchen Ellen Powers was always carrying crayons in her Dalmatian purse as a child. Now her supplies have upgraded, but the love of art has remained the same, and she loves sharing her dreams with others through painting. She has illustrated The Boxcar Children 75th Edition, Summer's Call, Remembering Rosalind Franklin, and Hope Comes to Stay. She grew up happily in West Michigan in a farmhouse that her dad built. She invites you to visit her online at gretchenellenpowers.com.
Review Quotes: K-Gr 3--At the start of this heartwarming family tale, a father on a bicycle sees a sign for an auction of land in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains: ''What if?' he wondered.' His son narrates the tale of a family that decides to follow their dream to create a life for themselves 'away from the city and all its thrills.' From auction to planning to the actual construction of the house and making it into a home, the tale unwinds as this and shy;loving family plans and works together to build a life in the country with their ideal home, including the animals and wildflowers at their 'friendly farmhouse on the hill.' Tender and shy;illustrations filled with whimsy and love effectively capture the construction process as well as the connectivity of the family. and shy;Although an idyllic and pastoral setting combined with a loving family make this story and shy;almost too good to be true, back matter, including photographs, confirms that the author and her fand shy;amily did indeed make this dream into their reality. VERDICT: An and shy;uplifting tale of and shy;family doing hard work together to make the life they envision.--School Library Journal