The House That Zac Built by Alison Murray

Author: Alison Murray
Illustrator: Alison Murray
Publisher: Orchard Books
Year: 2014

A modern re-imagining of the traditional rhyme This is the House that Jack Built, with a boy playing building blocks in a farm setting.

We adore Alison Murray’s books, and this is another gorgeous addition to any bookshelf. With the same characters as Hickory Dickory Dog to lend familiarity, The House That Zac Built loosely follows the style of The House That Jack Built but with less repetition and a more accessible story. There’s humour, mess, and tidying up, with gorgeous artwork and a very readable rhyme. Much enjoyed.

(+) Text leads you to want to turn pages. Rhyme follows familiar pacing. Repetition in text. Familiar characters from series but book stands alone. Emotive illustrations.
(-) Technically low diversity but very few characters.

Nursery Rhymes; Farms; Farm Animals; Childhood

Hickory Dickory Dog – Alison Murray (Orchard Books, 2014)
Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes (Various editions)
Harry the Dirty Dog – Gene Zion & Margaret Bloy Graham (Red Fox, original pub. 1956)
What the Ladybird Heard – Juila Donaldson & Lydia Monks (Macmillan Children’s Books, 2009)

Received for review from Hachette Children’s Books.