Last week for Christmas my children received book store gift cards from a friend. So off we went to spend our funds. If you have ever shopped with kids you know the selection process can take quite some time. So while they were shopping I helped by pulling out book after book for inspection, much of the selection has not changed a bit since I was a kid.
I guess I have always been sucker for architecture and interiors. I can remember from a very young age drawing-room after room of interiors in full perspective. I can look at house illustrations and floor plans for hours on end so I guess it’s no surprise that I am completely inspired by the homes illustrated in children’s book.
Amelia Badelia worked in some pretty awesome houses and could definitely draw some drapes.
What about Richard Scarry, he drew a mean cutaway and even showed you how to build the house. His books included all kinds of houses and living spaces illustrated down to the tiniest detail. In the Town All Year ‘Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner also shows this kind of detail.
The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain lived in a tree house and were able to fit some pretty extensive interiors in that one trunk!
The Little Critters by Mercer Mayer had a pretty cool tree house too, but then again where else would a little critter live?
Eloise by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight had some pretty fancy digs at the Plaza Hotel in N.Y.C. plus she never seamed to have to clean her room…And who isn’t completely intrigued by the architecture of Dr. Suess? This one is from Oh the Place You’ll Go, but pretty much any Dr. Suess book is filled with some pretty amazing structures.
The Sweet Pickles Series by Jacquelyn Reinach, Richard Hefter, and Ruth Perle were one my favorites growing up not for what was in the book itself but for what was on the inside cover. Each cover contained a list of character and an aerial map of the neighborhood and each character’s home. I remember spending afternoons with my sisters negotiating who would be what character and driving around the neighborhood with our fingers to each others house. Houses with pools were definitely a premium!
But for all these beautiful illustrations my favorite has always been Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson because for Harold the options were endless. He had his purple crayon and could create anything his mind could imagine. As long as it was purple of course!
Lisa in AL
Hmm, my fave “house” in a kid’s book is definitely the tree that the dogs use to have a party in Go Dog, Go! Go figure- me with a dog book. Oh, and I love the one you gave me- it totally cracks me up! Thank you!
Shannon
Should have added the Brambly Bush houses.
Maggie Overby
Shannon, That is not one I remember reading growing up but I looked them up (are they the same as Brambly Hedge?) Lovely illustrations and totally made for this list. Might be headed to the library for a better view!