Too Many Visitors For One Little House by Susan Chodakiewitz

The crabby neighbors of El Camino can’t bear all the music, fun and laughter at the house of the new family on the block as aunts, uncles, cousins and grannies arrive for a big noisy reunion. Too Many Visitors for One Little House is a joyful story about the importance of being included..

The neighbors of El Camino Street did not like pets. They did not like kids. They did not like people with big families. They never had any guests and spent their day cleaning their houses, tending their gardens, and snoozing on their porches.

When the new family on the block moved in — a mom, a dad, three kids, and a fish—the neighbors kept an eye out for trouble. Yet life remained as
usual…until the day the visitors arrived.

Reading this book made me think of my own family.  Although I only have one sister, I have a large extended family on my mother’s side.  Whenever there is a holiday we all meet at my Nana and Papa’s for a meal and to share what is going on in our lives.  Their house is not small really, but not nearly large enough to hold over 40 adults and children.  There are times when I don’t want to go – there doesn’t seem to be much chance of talking to the people that I want to talk to or relaxing really.  But, after reading this book it made me realize that I do have something that a lot of people envy – a large extended family that cares about me and my family…and I care about them even more.

I loved reading this book and seeing how the neighbors of El Camino realized what they were missing, and decided to change their minds and hearts.  Find joy and love in your day and live it to the fullest as you may not get another.  A great book for young and old alike, I would highly recommend it.  Thanks Susan for making me realize how truly blessed I am!

Susan Chodakiewitz is a writer, composer and producer. She is the founder of Booksicals Children’s Books- Encouraging the love of reading through the arts. Through her company Booksicals she has created the Booksicals on Stage literacy program which is currently presenting musical performances of the picture book Too Many Visitors for One Little House at schools, libraries, and special events.

Susan lives in Los Angeles in a lively household filled with music, three sons, a husband, a Dalmatian and lots of visitors. Susan loves picture books and when she wrote a musical based on one of her favorites, she realized it was time to start writing her own picture books. Too Many Visitors for One Little House is Susan’s debut book.

You can visit her website at www.booksicals.com.