Moving day

"But I don't want to move!" mourns a voice that accompanies a watercolor-and-ink drawing by Reinhardt (Gondra's Treasure) of a home with wide, eye-like windows; "I've been here my whole life--over one hundred years." Readers soon realize that the house itself is the one speaking, and the one moving. Looking mournful, it clutches two floral bags as workers begin to tug it from its foundation and a truck tows it slowly down the street. "A crowd has gathered to see me off.... Kids ride their bicycles in zigzag patterns behind me and ring their bells. It's almost like a parade." Working from high up, above the buildings, Reinhardt follows the action: signs are removed and tree branches trimmed back as the procession inches forward. Then, in a dramatic vertical spread, a great hill looms ("I move slowly, carefully, cautiously"). This sprightly story by debut author Drobnick does dual duty, offering a new angle on feelings about moving while exploring a striking feat of engineering. An author's note shows the San Francisco Victorian home that inspired the tale. Human characters are represented with a variety of skin tones. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. Illustrator's agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Mar.)

It's normal to be nervous on moving day, especially when you've been in the same place for more than 100 years. Anthropomorphized by spindly, stockinged legs and pointy boots, an ornate Victorian home on a cozy San Francisco street nervously steps onto a flatbed trailer--and so the journey begins. A parade ensues as curious neighbors gather, children ride their bikes alongside the trailer, and a police escort leads the way. Teetering and tottering, the house waits as tree trimmers cut low branches and utility workers remove street signs to make way for the oversize caravan. The bashful and bruised house wonders when this will all be over before finally spotting the new residents: a multiracial family of five who smile and wave from an empty lot. Settling in, the house misses being in the old neighborhood, but the new family's love and the comforting sound of the ice cream truck make for a sweet, empathetic conclusion to a daunting adventure. Dynamic ink and watercolor illustrations lend the house a lively personality and depict a diverse crowd of bystanders. Careful readers will notice delightful details such as flowering bushes on either side of the house that transform into giant, floral-patterned carpet bags, clutched tightly to the house's sides by curling ivy arms. An author's note discusses the book's inspiration--a real-life San Francisco home that was moved six blocks in 2021. Charming, entertaining, and full of heart.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.