My house

Byron Barton

Book - 2016

"Jim the cat describes his favorite places inside and outside his house"

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Children's Room Show me where

jE/Barton
0 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Barton Due Apr 7, 2024
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York, NY : Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers [2016]
Language
English
Main Author
Byron Barton (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9780062337030
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Jim, an orange cat, takes viewers on a tour of his house, from the outside (roof, windows, and door) to the inside (living room, kitchen, bedroom, bed, bathroom, and litter box). Jane, a woman carrying groceries, comes through the front door, walks in the kitchen, and (ignoring the broken cup that the cat earlier knocked onto the floor) pours food into Jim's bowl. He eats, allows Jane to pet him, and goes outdoors again. The last picture expands the view to show the house within a little neighborhood, accompanied by Jim's parting words, I like my home. Meow. Similar in approach and design to Barton's popular My Car (2001), My Bus (2014), and My Bike (2015), the text is quite short and accessible. Barton makes choices that will make sense to preschoolers, such as devoting a double-page spread to Jim's litter box. The eye-catching digital artwork uses vibrant colors, simple shapes, and bold patterns to create pictures with a childlike look. Another ideal read-aloud choice from Barton.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-K-Jim the cat provides a tour of his cozy home. This orange tabby explores both his outdoor and indoor spaces with an active prowl; he perches comfortably in a tree, jumps to the rooftop, and springs to the ground as he explores his surroundings. Jim takes full ownership of his home with a mixture of catlike and human characteristics; he sits upright in his rocking chair when he views the living room but then freely walks across the counters in typical feline fashion. Jim's interests are fully realized when he hears a noise at the door and recognizes his owner. "It is Jane. Jane makes my dinner." Full-color art created in Photoshop suits each cheerful scene with concise and simple text displayed in a bright yellow font. The purpose of each space is clearly showcased, such as when Jim introduces readers to the litter box in the bathroom, highlighting the functionality of his living arrangements. Jim adds practicality along with feline flair as he completes his rounds with a final statement. "I like my home. Meow." VERDICT Jim's abode is a welcome place for all who enter.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

A purple car drives away from a house, and the story begins -- with what young viewers might suppose is mischief. As an orange tiger cat introduces himself ("I am Jim") and his house ("This is the roof of my house. These are the windows. This is the door"), we wonder -- is it really his house? After all, he uses an open window, not the door, to get inside; in the kitchen, he naughtily walks on the counters and knocks over a mug. Jim does a bit of Goldilocks-ing as well, trying out the rocking chair in the living room and napping on the large bed upstairs in the bedroom, reinforcing viewers doubts. But gradually it becomes clear that Jim does indeed live there (the litter box in the bathroom is perhaps our first definite clue), and when Jane comes home she welcomes him with dinner and not a single scolding about the broken mug ("I like Jane"). As usual, Barton crafts his story with preschoolers firmly in mind, providing just enough tension ("I hear a noise downstairs") and plot twists to keep things interesting; his signature simple shapes and bold colors are a perfect match for the brief, straightforward text. Listeners will be glad Jim likes his home and neighborhood so much, though they may wonder what will happen when he next heads back inside: Jane has placed a flowerpot on that first-floor-entry windowsill. martha v. parravano(c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A ginger cat introduces young viewers to his personal house and world. "I am Jim. // This is my house." Starting from the tree outside, this feline tour guide jumps to the roof, then down to ground level to climb in a window, sit in a rocker in "my living room," and stroll from kitchen to bedroom to bathroom and litter box. A noise at the door leads to an introduction to Jane, who "makes my dinner," and then it's back to the tree for a final survey of the suburban neighborhood. Painted in vividly contrasting colors and with thick architectural elements modeled to look like sculpted clay, the house and its furnishings seem almost archetypal in their simple solidity. But for all the elemental visual appeal of the illustrations, it's a dull tour, without much to see beyond the generic and none of the visual surprises that animate Barton's recent My Bus (2014) and My Bike (2015). Even Jim seems bored, concluding with a listless "I like my home. Meow." The targeted diaperati will likely be similarly enervated by this bland open house. (Picture book. 1-3) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.