Julia’s House Moves On

In this sequel to Julia’s House for Lost Creatures, the trolls, ghosts, and other creatures who live in Julia’s ramshackle Victorian have been out of sorts, precipitating a move to the mountains. Things should go smoothly (“I have a plan for this,” Julia says), but the house moves first, trundling down to the sea atop the turtle on which it is perched, and soon it’s adrift and battered. “Don’t worry,” Julia reassures the creatures, “I have a plan for this.” She rummages through her boxes, scarf and apron signaling her readiness. In Hatke’s fantasy universe, something delightfully improbable happens on almost every page; here, though Julia unearths a horn of Triton and summons assistance, the chaos merely deepens. Yet despite the suspense, Hatke’s loose line and gentle, candy-box palette suggest that everything will end well. Julia’s need for a plan is kindly upended, and readers watch her discover that sometimes, if she lets go, things (and creatures) will take care of themselves. Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]