Review: Julia's House for Lost Creatures

By Ben Hatke
Available now from First Second (Macmillan)
Review copy

Ben Hatke is known for the Zita the Spacegirl graphic novels, the third and final volume of which came out earlier this year.  Now he is venturing into children's books with JULIA'S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES, and his skills transfer very well.  His art is adorable and immensely appealing.  The trolls and mermaids and dragons and patchwork kitties (lost creatures all) are absolutely adorable.

From Julia's House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke

There's a great deal of detail in the illustrations, perfect for kids who like to go over every page to point out every little thing.  (Yes, that would be my niece and nephew.)  I really think this helps add to the re-read value of JULIA'S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES.

The text itself is a short and sweet poem about Julia's house filling up with creature after creature and how she handles it.  It's a good length for a bedtime story, and I think JULIA'S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES is perfect for reading aloud to a child.  At the same time, it's simple enough to be a good text for really early readers.

If you're looking for a story with a walking house (that is too quiet), a lonely girl, and whimsical monsters, then JULIA'S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES is a real treat.