Creaky Old House by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Michael Chesworth

Creaky Old House: A Topsy-Turvy Tale of a Real Fixer-Upper by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Michael Chesworth

Rating: 5 stars

I'm a make-it-work girl married to a make-it-better guy; a little tension between those two approaches sometimes...just sometimes!...exists.  I'm happy to say that in this book, my way wins out.  Hooray!

I'd heard that Creaky Old House had a good, rollicking rhyme and it was about fixing up a home--something that happens all the time in our wonderful sorta-old home.  (It's hard to say that a house built in the '80s is old.)  There is always a project going on in our house--sometimes it's just a massive reorganizing effort, but often it's a renovation project that will take months to plan, and then months to occur.  Progress is good, I know, but when the status quo is mighty fine, it's hard to buy into progress.

But, as I type, Kiefer is walking around with a drill, "fixing things."  It's a toy drill, in case you're concerned about my wisdom in handing out real drills to a toddler.

Perhaps we have hoarders here?

In this VERY fun book, nine people live in an actual old home that has creaky stairs and quirky problems, a nook or cranny for everyone, and one problematic doorknob.  When that doorknob breaks and a new doorknob that fits can't be found, they look to replace the door.  But there is no door that fits perfectly.  So they'll have to adjust the door frame...and then move the chair...and then relocate the staircase...  As you probably guessed, the house-dwellers erupt with ideas and suggestions and pretty soon a brand-spankin'-new house is designed, complete with a roller coaster (my kids would love that!).

But just as the new house design is complete (it only took a few pages...not so realistic if you've ever been through that process!), they realize the youngest kiddo is missing.  Uh-oh!  Oh, wait.  She's just on the porch.  And looky there!  Lizzie has a triumphant look on her face.  She's gone and fixed the doorknob.  With her pacifier.

My kind of girl!  Although I'd have used duct tape.