Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke, Emily Hughes
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536225185
Genres: Adventure, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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Beti and the Little Round House

Words by Atinuke

Illustrated by Emily Hughes

This book is a collection of four illustrated short stories, one for each season, about a young girl named Beti who lives with her family in a roundhouse in Wales. Young readers who dream of building forts in the woods from found materials in nature will be inspired by Beti’s home; her round house is constructed from thick earth walls, with tree trucks holding up the grassy roof. Beti’s family lives simply- growing and foraging their food, filling water jugs from the nearby stream, and caring for their chickens and horses. Beti, often accompanied by her baby goat, Naughty, turns everyday chores into adventures. Even though Beti may live differently than us, she still has many experiences to which young readers can easily relate; she gets into trouble with her friends, faces consequences of her mistakes, and confronts her fears. The author includes book recommendations for those who wish to learn more about roundhouses, or maybe even attempt to build one. Reading age: 7-9 years, grade level: 2-4.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay