{"id":30637,"date":"2016-06-22T23:28:01","date_gmt":"2016-06-23T03:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30637"},"modified":"2016-06-22T23:28:01","modified_gmt":"2016-06-23T03:28:01","slug":"review-of-rules-of-the-house-by-mac-barnett-illustrated-by-matt-myers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30637","title":{"rendered":"Review of Rules of the House, by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matt Myers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"rules_of_the_house_large\"<\/a>Rules of the House<\/em><\/p>\n

by Mac Barnett
\nillustrated by Matt Myers<\/p>\n

Disney Hyperion, 2016. 48 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

This book arrived at the library just in time to use it for booktalking in the schools. It\u2019s a perfect book for booktalking. You just read the beginning and stop at the suspenseful part. Those kids are going to come after it, I know they will!<\/p>\n

Ian is a rule-follower. His sister Jenny is not.<\/p>\n

So when their vacation cottage in the woods has a list of Rules of the House on the wall, Ian is delighted.<\/p>\n

THE RULES OF THE HOUSE<\/p>\n

We trust you will respect the house by observing the following rules:<\/p>\n

1. Remove muddy shoes before you enter the house.
\n2. Don\u2019t leave a ring around the bathtub drain.
\n3. Replace any firewood you burn.
\n4. Never \u2013 ever \u2013 open the red door.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Right from the start, Jenny does not follow the rules. There is a showdown.<\/p>\n

Ian pointed to the paper on the wall. \u201cYou\u2019ve already broken rules one through three.\u201d
\n\u201cSo what?\u201d said Jenny. \u201cIt\u2019s not even our house.\u201d
\n\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter,\u201d said Ian. \u201cRules are rules, and rules are meant to be \u2013\u201c
\n\u201cListen, toady,\u201d Jenny moved toward the red door. \u201cIf you say that one more time, I swear, I\u2019ll open this door.\u201d
\n\u201cRules are meant to be \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n

Jenny turned the knob.
\nIan shouted, \u201cRules are meant to be followed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenny flung the door open.<\/p>\n

Nothing happened.<\/p>\n

Until that night.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And that is where I shut the book and say that you need to come to the library and check it out.<\/p>\n

What I will say to my readers is that Jenny\u2019s punishment is appropriately scary and Ian ends up having to (*gasp*) break a rule in order to save his sister.<\/p>\n

The whole result is funny and slightly scary and wonderfully overdramatic and a marvelous yarn.<\/p>\n

I asked a class of second graders how many like rules, and about half raised their hands. This is also good food for discussion about when following rules goes too far, and when it\u2019s a good way to keep you safe.<\/p>\n

macbarnett.com<\/a>
\nmyerspaints.com<\/a>
\nDisneyBooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/rules_of_the_house.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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