Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
— William Shakespeare
Finally an author explores an impulse I’ve had: to explore an abandoned house. Julie Fogliano’s new book, A House That Once Was, illustrated by the phenomenal Lane Smith, is that book with stellar imagination and vivid color-magic! It makes me remember such a house in rural, Kudzu-draped North Carolina and another stripped of color by the salty, Maine air.
I wanted to explore an abandoned barn, far in Northern Michigan when I was a kid, but my father told me the floorboards might be rotten. That makes it all the more magical to see this in a book — no risk of life or limb! Having always wanted to go inside…
Copyright 2018 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: What is more magical than possibility and wonder?
Friendly Fairy Tales 
I went into a haunted house that I wasn’t supposed to, when I was a kid. I went with my sister. We were also told about rotten floor boards, and other “facts” to keep us out. That was a lot of years ago, but the memory still haunts me. LOL! Anyway, it was a wonderful childhood adventure.
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I love how magical they made it, you should check out the book. There’s one picture of a girl dancing that makes my heart happy.
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i love places that have lived and worn naturally over time. i also am a huge lane smith fan. i’m going to check this out!
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I read a blog interview that said Lane Smith has asked her to write him a story, and he would illustrate it. Isn’t it wonderful?
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Yes!
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How beautiful it can invoke such a fab memory!
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It was unexpected for me, too. 🙂
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😊
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