New House

As American as apple pie and Norman Rockwell, this book tells about a new house being built next door to a boy named Andy, who befriends the builder, Red, and the construction workers. Andy watches them construct the house and collects their scraps, so he can build his own treehouse overlooking the site. Red explains house-building procedures, and at noon Andy brings his lunch box so he can eat with and be just like the big guys. He wonders if the new family will have a boy his age, someone who will share his treehouse. The new family does have a boy, and they become fast friends. Andy decides to become a builder when he grows up. Bethel's paintings of rural scenes evoke nostalgia for the good old days, and Maynard's narrative is a refreshing look at a simpler time and place. Ages 3-8. (March)