The House at the End of the Road

A beautifully illustrated tale that reminded me of The Sandlot. What seems like a ghost house is really just the home of a lonely old man that is more interesting than he first appears. The story is one of friendship and learning new things.

The House at the End of the Road takes on the topic of how appearances can be deceiving. It is easy to "judge a book by its cover". People we think we might not connect with at first can make such a huge difference in our lives. This book is beautifully illustrated and written in a way that tells a relatable yet powerful message to its readers. I read this book with our almost 9 years old and it is was a wonderful conversation starter about how everyone has a story when you take the time to hear it. Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for an advanced copy of this book.

A pedagocially rich and relevant book about making right a mistake and in the process finding value in another human being. This book has many layers and more can be read into it depending on the age of the reader but a profoundly important read that brings two different generations together in a momentous and impactful way. It is both sad and insightful.

I enjoyed this book. It is one of the books that will help younger readers bridge into longer books. It has a good lesson about looking past the appearances to find the "real thing".

"One summer, while exploring the town during their annual stay at Grandma’s house, two siblings and their cousin come across a creepy old house. The kids poke around, one of them causing mischief and tossing rocks at the window, until they glimpse a ghost through the glass! Later, Grandma reveals the house doesn’t belong to a ghost - just old Mr. Peterson.

After visiting again with better intentions, the kids discover Mr. Peterson’s great sense of humor and that his house is full of fascinating things: old toys, photographs, even a film projector. They become regular visitors, until one day, Mr. Peterson is gone: he has left for a retirement home, and his house sits empty. Using odds, ends, and gifts he gave them, the kids create mementos of Mr. Peterson’s home to give back to him.

Full of heart, this picture book incorporates graphic novel elements to tell a layered and moving story about an intergenerational friendship. It shows how appearances can be deceiving: sometimes the best adventure awaits where you least expect it."

A sweet summer tale with heart.

The cover art is all Stranger Things meets haunted house ghost story. But once inside these beautifully drawn pages the only scary thing is just how hauntingly wrong first impressions can be. The House at the End of the Road doesn’t make the mistake of focusing on the wrong assumptions made by our three young children. Instead creator Kari Rust focuses on how a parental figure—a grandmother in this case—can work with children to understand how best to make amends for their errant behavior. These kids learn to look past the eccentric behavior of an elderly neighbor and learn to enjoy the humor and history of a man in the final chapter of life.

Thank you to @Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I love the story and how the kids learned that not everything is as it seems.