We’ve not written a book review in AGES and this one’s just a little bit different to our usual fare.

Home Sweet Home is a children’s book – recommended for ages 5+. However, even as adults, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading it… and, as regular readers will know, we appreciate and collect iconic children’s books!

Published earlier this month (October 2017), it was written by Mia Cassany and beautifully illustrated by Paula Blumen.

Throughout the 40 pages, you’re shown around various interiors & exteriors from around the world – guided by the pets-in-residence.

There’s Eva the St Bernard in Iceland, Coco the cat in Brooklyn… there’s even a tortoise named Taiki who lives in Kyoto, Japan!

This book is a really fun way for kids (and grown-ups!) to find out about other parts of the world. It teaches facts such as San Francisco is very hilly, Giethoorn in the Netherlands is car-free and that houses in Ibiza are painted white to reflect the light and keep them cool.

It’s a book that warrants plenty of return visits.

It’s such a charming read…

…and the illustrations are full of lovely detail that reveal something new every time you flick through the pages.

This book is a fantastic Christmas or birthday present for any pet-loving, budding interior decorator!

Home Sweet Home is available from the publishers in UK/Europe & US/Canada and from Amazon, The Book Depository and Waterstones.

[Many thanks to Ellen at Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the review copy]