Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the story and the idea of each door going somewhere different, especially in your imagination. Where would you like to go?

Find photographs of different types of doors and write where you think they might lead.

Write a poem about your home. Describe what is in your home and what you like best.

Make a list of what is in your home using the pictures in the book as well as other resources.

Discuss the book. Why does the boy like doors best? Where do the doors of his imagination take him?

Describe the doors in the book and imagine where you think they might go.

Write about what you like best in your home and why.

A House Is a House for Me

Mots-clés

Picture book , doors , exploration , homes , imaginary world , imagination , stories in rhyme

Commentaire descriptif

This bright, engaging picture book offers a long poem that takes young readers from tangible basics, “My house has a roof to keep out the weatherAnd walls on the sides to hold it together,” to new worlds of imagination, “You are, you see,The silver keyTo open the lockOh sesame, sesame”. As a little boy wanders through all the doors in his home, he ponders their value for him: they allow him to move from one place to another, they prevent him from being stuck. Warm and bright illustrations in vigorous, painterly markings depict the boy’s travels with his imaginary friends—even his goldfish leaves its bowl, swimming through the air. Children may notice that as the adventurers explore lush gardens and magic cities, the language introduces looser, more expressionistic elements: “East of me, west of meSesame, sesame, snap!” Both words and image project their message loud and clear: freedom of movement—especially in thought and mind—is a gift to be celebrated and treasured.