Do you know this book?

It was published in 1942 by Virgina Lee Burton and won a Caldecott Medal.

I read this to Morgan yesterday and my husband was reading the paper in our little den at the same time.

After a few moments he set the paper down and just listened.

It is beautifully written and evocative and tender and sweet and makes me yearn to move far out of the city onto a lovely little farm with crooked walls and ancient apple trees sharing their bridal finery with me each spring.

OK, actually many, many things make me yearn for that...but ... darn it! What was my point here? Hmmm...

Oh yes! The point is...if you have ever driven down a country road and imagined living in a quaint quirky house in the middle of nowhere this lovely little book should be on your bookshelf.

The book starts like so many wonderful stories "Once upon a time" and from that magical beginning it unfolds. ..." there was a Little House way out in the country. She was a pretty Little House and was strong and well built. The man who built her so well said, "This Little House shall never be sold for gold or silver and she will live to see our great-great-grandchildren's great-great-grandchildren living in her."

Read it. I think you will feel blessed. It is a magical moment in the midst of all the technology and fast-paced lives we lead.

And I think you will want to find your own place out in the country, too. Maybe we can live on the same road and I can walk to your house and borrow a cup of sugar.

And since my Mom always told me to never go empty-handed I will bring along some zinnias I just picked from the garden and maybe a piece of freshly baked cherry pie.

OK, I'm off to find a realtor.

Or probably not.

But I want to.

Sigh.