The House I'll Build for the Wrens

ISBN 0688149731 - I've owned this book for so long that it began to seem it had been here forever, would be here forever - and would never get read! The title didn't appeal to me, so it sat there. As usual, when I put off a book, it turns out to be a really good one that I regret putting off. The book starts with a child planning the house he's going to build for the wrens. Written in a cumulative rebus rhyme, similar to "The Green Grass Grew All Around" or "This is the House that Jack Built", the child gathers hammer, nails, wood, paint and more... and then Mom shows up! With just a look, Mom inspires him to clean up the mess he's made, then they hang up his creation for the wrens. While the accumulating rhyme was amusing, to suddenly come upon the page that says "Here is my mother..." and see her unsmiling face as she looks around cracked me up! The book is fun, funny and - check this out - even a little educational. On the copyright page there is a little information about wrens, which adds an unexpected dimension to this unexpectedly good book. Illustrator Nancy Wilson Parker and author Shirley Neitzel are a pair I'd definitely add to my list of books to look for. They've done other books together that are a similar style, including The Bag I'm Taking to Grandma's and We're Making Breakfast for Mother. - AnnaLovesBooks