The House Baba Built: An Artist's Childhood in China by Ed Young 51 pages 9780316076289

This is the most lovingly crafted book that I have seen this year. The title says it all; the book is more about the amazing house, than about the Caldecott author's childhood in China. Young's father made a deal that he would build a house on land near the fields of the Shanghai embassies. He could not afford to purchase the land, but he was a resourceful engineer. So, he would build a house, a swimming pool, extensive gardens that his family could enjoy for twenty years. Afterward, this would all belong to the landowner. And what an estate he created! The family moved into the house in 1935. Later he added a rooftop skating rink, and other rooms as friends and relatives joined his compound. To raise extra revenue, the neighborhood agreed to pay to use their pool during the day and in the evening the pool became private for the family. After twenty years and his five children had grown up, the father kept his promise and moved away. How radical!! The book is designed as a collage with family pictures, architecture plans and original art. Pages fold out to try to capture the grandeur of the plans. Unique!