(Philomel, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0399242430
ISBN-13: 978-0399242434
After Bella says goodbye to her old house, it’s time to meet her new one. But this house isn’t anything like Bella expected. The entrance way has ten steps instead of three, the bathtub has feet, and most of all, it does not feel like home. But Bella knows how to be brave, and with her imaginary friend Stella by her side, it doesn’t take long for her feelings about her new house to change—especially when she spies a next door neighbor who looks like he’d make a perfect friend.
A lively and charming tale about moving, bravery, friendship, and most of all, feeling at home.
Reviews
“The sweet narrative, told from Bella’s point of view, perfectly captures the little girl’s psyche. The story is enhanced by luminous, almost photographic illustrations drawn in shades of pink, ivory, and gold. With her expressive features and mop of dark curls, Bella stands out on each page.” —School Library Journal
“Anika Denise conveys tender understanding as Bella speaks directly to the reader, expressing her apprehension and confusion in appropriately childlike terms… A splendid marriage of words and pictures.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The fact that Bella comes to terms with the move on her own (her parents are always offstage) adds to the appeal of this story, whose subtle narrative is neatly balanced by larger-than-life graphics.” —Publishers Weekly
“The story itself is charming. Bella moves to a new house, and she and her stuffed elephant, Stella, don’t think it’s anything like as nice as the one they left behind. It’s also the model of simplicity. (Anyone trying to edit down a picture book manuscript to just the things that matter should use this as an example.)” —Pat Zeitlow Miller, author of Sophie’s Squash