Sophie Blackall’s Farmhouse is a heartfelt picture book that captures the life, love, and history within the walls of an old family farmhouse. With thoughtful storytelling and whimsical illustrations, Blackall takes readers on a journey through time, following a bustling farm family with twelve children as they eat, play, quarrel, and grow within the walls of the farmhouse.
As the years pass, the children move away, and the once lively house begins to creak with age. When the last sister departs, the farmhouse, now emptied of human life, welcomes animals and critters, becoming a different kind of home. But even in its quiet decay, the house remains a keeper of remembered moments, a treasure chest filled with artifacts of everyday life long past.
Blackall’s illustrations, resembling a scrapbook of the family’s life, invite readers to peer into the house like a dollhouse, revealing layer upon layer of lived-in history. There is a sense of whimsy and nostalgia on every page, making each two-page spread feel like a window into another time.
Farmhouse is a celebration of family, memory, and the passage of time—a beautifully crafted invitation to consider the way our home life shapes us and informs our own stories. A delightful read for children and adults alike, this book is sure to make anyone look at their own home with gratitude and affection.
