A Very Special House

A Very Special House
by Ruth Krauss with pictures by Maurice Sendak/ published 1953 by Harper & Row

Recently given to my son as a favorite by a friend, this is one in a little series of book written by this team. They are all very imaginative and a little off from the norm, but they encapsulate the wonder of childhood perfectly. We all know Sendak, but apparently Ms. Krauss was married to Crockett Johnson, the famed author of Harold and the Purple Crayon.

I'm bringing home a turtle
and a rabbit and a giant
and a little dead mouse
– I take it everywheres –

I love how in the illustrations in this one, the boy is in black, white and blue and the imaginary things are all line drawings. Not to mention the giggling, snickering and smiling all illustrate what I like to describe in my own son as the "rascal."

Also by:
Happy Egg
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
Moon Jumpers
What Do You Say, Dear?
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale
Some Swell Pup
Let's Be Enemies
Chicken Soup with Rice
Lullabies and Night Songs
Outside Over There
I'll Be You and You Be Me
The Juniper Tree
Where the Wild Things Are
Seven Little Monsters
The Giant Story