First published 2021
Merra, Locky, Roozle, Finn, and little Jory live happily in their ramble shamble house. They tend the garden together, care for their chickens, and handle daily chores as a team. Jory has his own special job watching over the mud puddles. Everything works smoothly until they discover a picture book showing a "proper" house. The image makes them question their own home. Are they living the right way? They decide to transform everything around them to match proper standards. The garden gets a makeover. The chickens receive proper treatment. Even Jory's beloved mud puddles get the proper touch. But their efforts create unexpected problems. When Jory disappears during their home improvement project, the children face a crisis that forces them to reconsider what makes a house truly right for their family. Their search for him becomes a journey back to understanding the value of their original way of life.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, reclaiming-identity
Setting: Ramble Shamble House
32 pages · Hardcover · Nancy Paulsen Books