Welcome to the Wonder House

June 25, 2024

Welcome to the Wonder HouseWelcome to a summer’s magic post.  A book of poems. Wonderful wonder poems,

Welcome to the Wonder House, poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard with illustrations by Deborah Freedman, invites the reader to step into a place that encourages one to imagine, to dream, to wonder.  The reader will discover an entire house filled with “rooms [that] are a roadmap for finding wonder.” Quite a map, indeed. It’s scale is 1 inch = infinity.

Each room in this fantastical house holds a different type of wonder. For each reader there is a wonder that delights.

I paused in the Room of Praise:

“Sometimes I praise paper … as it waits for me to trace my hand, spill my heart.”

Another favorite room of mine is the Room of Quiet:

“If you travel into space lean into listen ….. there is a great stillness between stars.”

illustration from Welcome to the Wonder House
illustration © Deborah Freedman, from Welcome to the Wonder House, poems by Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich, published by Wordsong

I had to pause and then enter the Room of Wishes:

“I wrote my wish
Upon a kite,
Closed my eyes,
Grabbed its string —

Through wind
I ran,
Let it fly…

…and with it sailed
A part of me.”

Peek into the Room of Time or enjoy the surprises in the Room of Creatures or Science. What a beautiful, delightful book to share with a young reader, Welcome to the Wonder House, or to enjoy in the quiet of all-alone.

Nancy Bo Flood

As a fish-brain surgeon or a rodeo poem wrangler, I have loved stories. I strongly believe that words – in poetry or prose – help heal our hearts and give us new eyes to see the world. I was first a research psychologist studying brain development at the University of Minnesota and London University before following my passion – writing for children. Learn more…