The House Takes a Vacation
What’s inside...
After the Petersons leave for vacation, their house decides it wants to take a holiday, too! The different parts of the house can't agree on a destination until the sunporch suggests the beach. Despite the basement's reluctance, the rest of the house follows the front door to the beach for an unforgettable vacation. Lee White's oil and colored pencil illustrations enhance this whimsical tale, leading it to a safe and sound conclusion.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
34 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the house felt when everyone left for vacation?
What part of the house's adventure did you find the most exciting or surprising?
If our house could go on a vacation, where do you think it would go and why?
What did the house learn about itself during its vacation?
How did the story change the way you think about our home?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading the book, ask your child to imagine what it would be like if your house could go on vacation. After reading, revisit their initial thoughts and compare them with the house's adventures in the book.
Encourage your child to describe what feelings and emotions they think a house might have. Use moments from the book to explore these ideas further.
Help your child draw connections between the house's experiences and your own family vacations. Discuss any similar feelings or surprises.
Use the book’s illustrations to inspire questions about details in the book, enhancing observation and imagination skills.
After reading, collaborate with your child to write a short story or create a drawing about another adventure the house might go on.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'The House Takes a Vacation', the house feels neglected and decides to leave, prompting the belongings to look after themselves. This demonstrates the importance of taking care of one's environment and belongings.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking initiative in their daily chores and understanding the importance of maintaining cleanliness and order in their living spaces.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As the house and the possessions express feelings of abandonment, the story imparts the importance of considering the feelings and experiences of others, even non-living things.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop empathy towards others' feelings and learn to nurture relationships by recognizing and respecting the needs and emotions of those around them.
Example Lesson: Adaptability
Explanation: The belongings in the house learn to adapt and handle situations on their own during the house's absence. This exemplifies adaptability in unfamiliar or unexpected situations.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be more flexible and adapt when faced with new scenarios or changes in their routine, helping them to effectively manage and respond to challenges.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: The story shows the household items working together to manage without the house. This illustrates the power of teamwork and cooperation.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to work collaboratively with others, be it in school projects or family activities, fostering a spirit of unity and collective problem-solving.
Example Lesson: Appreciation
Explanation: By the end of the book, there's a renewed appreciation for the house and its importance. This teaches the value of appreciating what one has before it's gone.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value their possessions and environment more, and not take them for granted, leading to a more grateful outlook on life and its many blessings.