I love the Barrington Stoke series of books that allow big topics to be explored in a way that less confident readers can understand but without talking down to them.

In this book Juno is dealing with the loss of her summer plans, a summer that is to be spent with a grandfather she doesn't know well, and oft absent father and a mother who is now going to be away an in potentially dangerous situations.
The book isn't didactic or overwrought - Juno and her grandfather find a common interest to occupy them and through this Juno comes to understand what drives her parents to help in disaster hit areas of the world - even if it means leaving their own daughter.
The book was a real treat for the senses and I really wanted some of the food that grandfather cooked for them!

Little House is a beautifully written and reflective story about a young girl leaving the cosiness and security of her home to go and stay with her grandpa whilst her parents volunteers abroad.

This wonderfully rich and detailed narrative follows Juno and her grandpa as she processes her mother’s absence, and her drive to help others. I loved the way the author drew parallels between Juno and her mother’s experience. The illustrations are warm, soft, and perfectly complement the text, giving readers moving insights into Juno’s experience.

This story was so accessible and relatable for people of all ages and reading abilities. Drawing on themes of grief, caring, home, adjustment and coming of age, I shed a few tears as I read. I’d highly recommend this book as one which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Thank you Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

What a wonderful book. This had us all crying at the end (except Grumpy Grandad who thinks his eyes were watering because he might be getting man flu ?). A delightful story of Juno coming to realise why her mother feels the need to volunteer abroard. A story with so many layers depending upon your age and understanding of the world around us. This will become a family classic.

I love how Barrington Stoke makes more advanced books accessible for dyslexic children as I have a couple of dyslexic students. It is not that easy to find books that have the kind of depth they need to be inspired and are printed in a dyslexic-friendly format.

Katya Balen's writing is as poetic and exquisite as ever. There is always that tenderness in her writing that touches readers' hearts. I love how the story unravels and takes the readers on a journey of discovery together with the narrator.

A really touching short story about Juno who goes to stay with her grandpa whilst her parents are helping abroad. Feeling upset and abandoned, Juno, with the help of an old dolls house, discovers the importance and true meaning of her parents work.

Thank you so much to Barrington Stoke and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Juno’s mum is going away to help those in a crisis around the world, leaving her sad and confused why her mum would just leave her. Staying with her grandpa she finds a run down old doll house and a family with no place to stay and a project forms in her mind and she starts to understand her mums job.

This was really sweet, the instant she found this doll family she connected with them, she knew they had to have a nice home and to be together again. I really liked that through the dolls she learnt and understood her mum, understood her mums childhood and why her mum did what she did.

The illustrations throughout were also really beautiful, seeing as she found the run down house, the dolls, as she starts to create her very own house. I loved seeing the story within each of the illustrations, they really managed to show some of the important bits of the story.

This was a really lovely sweet family story, I really loved how she connected with her grandpa and that they were being so creative together building all the doll house and things for it. He gave her the space she needed but was always there for her when she needed him.

I really enjoyed this book it was so easy to read and I was so happy that Juno found something to hold onto whilst she was so sad and alone. The dolls were a wonderful find and she knew what they needed and with her grandpa being a carpenter she had someone wonderful to help her with everything.

A new Katya Balen story is always something to look forward to; over the last few years she has written some of the most beautiful and moving stories for readers of 8+.
Each of her books has a simplicity of touch but dig deeper and the craft of composition is evident- the selection of vocabulary and construction is almost poetic. Birdsong is a classic
Little House is another mesmerising story- Juno has to spend the summer with her grandfather as her mum has to travel to an unspecified destination to help families who are in challenging circumstances and suffering. The link to many global events can be inferred.
Juno is angry and feels abandoned but the discovery of a broken dolls' house in a her grandfather's attic and the set of dolls without a home sets the wheels in motion as she decides that she will reconstruct their home.
As the story progresses, the house is completed but it looks empty . Juno recalls her mum's words;' It's not enough to give people just enough ' So she embarks on creating the inner elements of the home. Juno begins to understand the reason for her mum's departure to help families.
The subtlety, yet depth, of the message is profound. This is not a long book but would make a good read for a reader who wants greater independence; but this is also a great class read and will initiate some good discussion linked to family and wider global issues.
Richard Johnson's sensitive and slightly ethereal illustrations add another layer of emotion to the story.
This is another winner from Katy Balen- and I'll be recommending Little House to colleagues and friends.

Katya Balen has got to be THE author I turn to when I want beautiful, poetically descriptive writing. This story is stunning - containing just a couple of characters and a seemingly simple but multilayered storyline it is perfect for a quick read and absolutely ideal for struggling readers who still enjoy complex characters and engaging plot.