The House of Joyful Living by Roni Schotter

Illustrated by Terry Widener. 32 p., Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008.

When a new baby comes into the family, it's hard to give up being a special only child. This is a little girl’s struggle in this story that's genuinely empathic with the experience of being a child. The girl lives in an apartment building full of friendly neighbors who share their diverse cultural traditions and a common value of helping others. This building, the House of Joyful Living, has a rooftop garden where they gather to talk, eat, and listen to music, and once a year, to have a party. The girl feels as if she's on top of the world on the rooftop, with not only her parents, but all the other "great, good" adults, to herself. The girl knows her mother is pregnant, but for most of the story, she pushes aside this knowledge. When a neighbor makes a special gift for Mama and the baby, the girl can't ignore this any longer, and she can't help worrying that the baby will consume all her parents' attention. She doesn't want to share; she doesn't want to lose the feeling of being special. When Mama and Papa comfort her, she can feel special again, and she begins to understand that the baby could be jealous of her. She finds herself feeling sorry for the baby, who is missing so much of her own wonderful experiences. And this inspires a sense of generosity toward the baby. Through her parents' loving responses, she's able to transform her hurt and envy into a secure sense of care and compassion. This story can help children find that care and compassion in themselves.

Ages: 4-8
Cultural Context: multicultural