Transcript

Welcome to Book Chat. This short film made by The Open University is designed to support you in sharing books with children, conversationally, enjoyably, and effectively. As you'll know, there are lots of ways to chat about books. And during this reading of A House That Once Was by Julie Fogliano and Lane Smith, you'll hear our top tips.

One. Do involve your child. You'll probably chat before, during, and after the story. Two, pause often and let your child ponder over the pages. They might notice a bird who appears on several, for instance.

Three. Do wonder aloud to trigger Book Chat. Phrases like I wonder if, help as you explore and make connections to your lives. Four. Sharing how you feel as you read encourages your child to do the same. Perhaps they'll empathise with the kids in the story. Finally, remember to keep pleasure at the centre of the sharing. Book Chat is fun.

Hi. My name is Richard. And this is a book called A House That Once Was. And what I like about this front cover is that the house is surrounded by nature. If you have a park or garden, do you like to read? Let's explore the book together.

Oh, look. A bird sitting on top of some of the books. I wonder if he'll appear in this story. Keep your eye out for him as we read along.

'A house that once' was written by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Lane Smith.

'Deep in the woods is a house, just a house that once was but now isn't a home. At the top of a hill sits the house that is leaning, a house that once wasn't but now it is peeling. A house that was once painted blue.'

What's that you've noticed above the roof? The bluebird? He's busy flying. I think maybe he's flying back to his own home. What do you think?

'Tiptoe creep up the path. Up the path that is hiding. A path at once welcomed. A path that is winding. A path that's now covered in weeds.'

Look at the young boy and girl, staring intently down the garden path. Look all the weeds, the bugs, the insects, all around them. Oh, there's that bird again. I wonder if he lives in this house?

'At the front of the house, the house that is waiting. There's a door that's not really open, but barely. A door that is closed but not quite. A door that is stuck between coming and going. A door that was once painted white.'

Look at the flakes of paint and the cracks in the door. Would you go into this house?

'Off to the side, there's a window that's watching. A window that once opened wide. A window that now has no window at all. A window that says climb inside.'

There's that young girl helping the boy through. A spider webs and cracked panes. Should they both be going in there?

'Inside the house it is silent, but creaking. We're whispering mostly, but not really speaking, we whisper. Though no one would mind if we didn't. There's someone who once was is someone who isn't. The someone who once was is gone.'

Look at what they've left behind. Can you spot some clues as to who lived in this house before?

He found some broken records. A pet bowl, some toys. Perhaps this person liked to travel. Oh, look. A mouse poking its head for a portrait. I wonder if the photo in the frame is of the owner of the house. What do you think?

'Who was this someone who ate beans for dinner, who sat by this fire, who looked in this mirror? Who was this someone whose books have been waiting, whose bed is still made, whose pictures are fading?'

They're discovering bits about this person's house, aren't they? Do you think they'll find any more clues?

'Who was this someone who walked down this hallway, who cooked in this kitchen, who napped in this chair? Who was this someone who left without packing, someone who's gone but is still everywhere?'

Look at all the ingredients they've left. Some mustard. I love a bit of mustard on a sandwich with some ham and cheese. Do you? I wonder what that girl is looking at.

'Was it a man with a big beard and glasses, who'd look out the window and dream of the sea? Or a woman who painted all day in the garden, portraits of squirrels while sipping iced tea?'

Do you remember when we went to a garden like that? It looked like the perfect place to paint, so calm and relaxing.

'Was there a cat who would sleep by the fire or a girl who would twirl to her records and sing? A boy who built planes and dreamt nightly of flying, a baby, a cowboy, a queen, or a king?

'Why did they leave here and where were they going? Did they run off and not say goodbye? Were they shipwrecked and now live on an island wearing coconut clothes with a pineapple tie? Or maybe they took off and headed to Paris, where they paint by the river and eat lots of cheese.

'What if they're lost and they're wondering lonely? Maybe they can't find their set of house keys. And maybe the house is still waiting there for them. Waiting to hear their key turn in the door. Waiting for voices to bounce down the hallway. Waiting for someone to come sweep the floor. Perhaps that boy is thinking about what the house was like. Look at the trees, cracking for the house, poking through the roof.

'Or maybe it loves to just sit and remember stories of someone who we'll never know. And maybe it likes it out there in the forest, with the trees coming in where the roof used to go.'

Oh, did you notice a small family of birds? I wonder if this is their home now. Where's that girl going with a pot of beans?

'So back through the window, we climb as we wonder. Back down the path that is tangled with thorn. Back to a house where our dinner is waiting. Back to a home that is cosy and warm.'

It's very different to their house they've just been in. Oh, look. There's that can of beans, filled with some bright colorful flowers. They look very familiar. Don't you think?

'Deep in the woods is a house, just a house that once was but now isn't a home.'

Look at the bird and its family. I wonder if the house that once was is a home again for them. I hope so.