Houses with a Story: A Dragon's Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore

A Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winner

For fans of Studio Ghibli, artist Seiji Yoshida's fantastical, award-winning art book is a perfect gift that transports readers to imaginary houses, each with their own story to tell. A book to unlock imaginations of both children and adults.

A dreamer's tree house.
A mechanic's cottage.
A submerged city...

In Houses with a Story, more than 30 imagined houses and the people who make them home offer unexpected worlds to wander through and explore. Who is the mischievous bridge-tower keeper? What does the witch grow in her garden? How does the postal worker tame his delivery dragons?

In each house, readers discover the contents of rooms and closets, what's at the top of the stairs, and where shadowy hallways lead. Story text provides background and details about the lives of the residents and hints about their past and future.

Featuring lush, full-color illustrations including diagrams, elevations, and sectional drawings, along with detailed descriptions of each character and their pets, the homes' architecture, design, location, and landscapes open doors to whimsy, wonder, and endless possibilities.

Author: Seiji Yoshida
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 11/14/2023
Pages: 128
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.75lbs
Size: 9.10h x 9.30w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781419761249
Audience: Ages 9-12


Award: Mildred L. Batchelder Award - Winner


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 10/09/2023
Kirkus Reviews 10/15/2023
School Library Journal 01/01/2024 pg. 64

About the Author
Seiji Yoshida is a Tokyo-based professional background illustrator working in the game/anime industry. In Houses with a Story, he introduces readers to part of his imagination and how he uses it.
Jan Mitsuko Cash is a Japanese-to-English translator with experience in novels, manga, and STEAM books. As a translator, Cash has freelanced for Viz Media, Yen Press, Seven Seas, Mangamo, and other publishers, most notably, working on manga series such as Bleach, Toradora!, Choujin X, and Fullmetal Alchemist: A New Beginning. She lives in Modesto, California.