The House that Walked Away by Simon Howe

When you think about moving house you probably don't think about the actual house itself moving but that is the fun premise of The House that Walked Away. The house wanders the countryside but nowhere feels quite right. Then a family group begin to follow the house and during a storm the house invites the family to step inside. The next day the house prepares to move on again, but the lights are on and the house is warm from the fires burning inside each hearth - it seems the House has finally found a family and now is the time to settle down.

Bookseller blurb: In this simple, surreal and stunning story, a house sets off on a journey to find a home. Dissatisfied and restless, the house wanders from place to place, hopeful but uncertain. Each time it settles down, the comfort is fleeting, and the urge to move on returns. But everything changes when a curious family notices the house, and decides to follow ...

Rachel Robson hosted another terrific children's book event at Gleebooks to celebrate The House that Walked Away. This was also one of the best author/illustrator events I have attended recently because Simon Howe had lots to share including a video of his creative process and the model of the house he used for his newest book. His presentation was engaging and interesting and everyone enjoyed the way he so sincerely shared his enthusiasm for his work creating picture books. One of the most interesting things Simon Howe shared was the way he gave his house emotions without using facial expressions - it is all in the body language!

Image source: Simon Howe Instagram 

Click this link to see some early drafts for this book

Talking about his book Simon explained he moved around a lot as a child - living in different houses. Having his own child he now understands home is more about the people and their relationships and not the actual building. His own dad always created a sense of home no matter where the family lived. 

The idea or 'trigger' image for this book was a simple sketch Simon made of a house with legs. As a child he met a street artist who explained it is important to get your ideas down on paper quickly - make the idea in your head exist and fill in the details later. I think we were all surprised to hear how he created this book quite quickly whereas Going Home (his other new book) began as an idea in 2022 and only reached publication in 2026. Simon uses digital tools but he would like to experiment with more traditional mediums. Sadly he explained these take longer and so cost more (I thought that was a very sad comment). Someone asked did he plan to write the next story about this little house and the family who have now made it their home. Simon Howe likes the idea that reading a picture book sometimes leaves the reader wanting more. 

For myself I want to know more about the little family group who find, follow and eventually settled in the house. Where have they come from? What is their back story? Am I 'wrong' to use words like homelessness or refugees? These are discussion questions you could use with your library group or class perhaps.

The House that Walked Away does pose a couple of very big questions - What is a home? What does a home mean to you?

Here are some photos I took at the Gleebooks Kids event:

Here are a few questions I would have asked Simon Howe (I never ask questions at events mostly because I think of them later):

• Do you see a link between The House that Walked Away and your other new book Going Home? To my eye these could easily be read as a pair.
• The legs on your house reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle (the book and Studio Ghibli Movie) and also The House with Chicken Legs - did either of these images or books influence you?
• Can you talk about the little family who follow the house? I love the inclusion of a multigenerational family and also of course the joy they find in music. I feel as though your story has a sound track - could this be the influence of your animation work?

The little house created by Simon Howe reminded me of illustrations like this one by Sven Nordqvist. To my eye The House that Walked Away has a very appealing European vibe. I love the shape of the roof, the symmetry of the windows and the two chimneys. You could use some terrific architecture terminology when you describe the little house - shingles, portico, symmetry, chimney stacks, and notice how the window frames look like eyebrows. It would be fun to draw a house plan to show the way you imagine the inside of this cottage. 

From the book 'Pettson and Findus'

Here is another book by Simon Howe:

Here are some notes from Walker Books

Simon Howe also used this form of panel illustrations in his book The House that Walked away

(source: Walker Books)

Simon Howe named these illustrators in answer to the question about his favorites: Beatrice Alemagna, Shaun Tan, Júlia Sardà, and Freya Blackwood. 

Bio: Simon Howe is an illustrator and author with a broad appetite for children's literature, animation, storytelling and design. He has worked with many major publishers, and his work has been nominated for the Australian Book Industry Awards and the Australian Book Design Awards. His long-time collaboration with ARIA award-winning children’s band, Teeny Tiny Stevies, has seen him produce more than a dozen animated music videos for ABC Kids TV. His first authored book, Shoosh, was distributed by the Bounty Bag network to over 60,000 children born in Queensland throughout 2022. Simon lives in regional Victoria with his family.

In September UQP will publish his newest book Betsy and Bon.

These books are also illustrated by Simon Howe:

Rachel mentioned when she was a child in Queensland she often witnessed people moving house - not just packing up their possessions and furniture but moving their whole house - that reminded me of this book (and in my real life the house next door to my apartment was loaded onto the back of a truck and taken away - it was a very exciting late night event in our street!)

While it is quite different and aimed at an older group of readers The House that Walked Away also reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle (book and movie). The Readings Melbourne reviewer agrees: Their journey together is full of music, sharing, joy on sunny days and comfort on rainy days. Together, they are transformed. The illustrations seem to glow from within, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli

Other companion books:

Farmhouse