A House Inside Out

Penelope Lively explores the labyrinths created by the plumbing, insulation and waste disposal arrangements of an ordinary suburban house, and finds a secret world inhabited by creatures whose lives are as magical and humdrum as our own. Eleven short stories introduce us to the oddly familiar customs of mice, woodlice, spiders and a visiting racing pigeon. A linking narrative is provided by the adventures of the family terrier. The interactions of this domestic fauna with the oblivious giants of the Dixon clan are described with a quiet vividness which generates an enchanting impression of innumerable parallel lives around us. The illustrations, particularly those of the woodlouse and spider episodes, enhance this effect. I would recommend this book to any child acquiring independence in reading, and look forward to a sequel focusing on the lives of household bacteria.