Mildred L. Batchelder Award

International Award

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is an American Library Association award that recognises the publisher of the year’s “most outstanding” children’s book translated into English and published in the US.

Established in 1966 in honour of Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association for Library Service to children and a believer in the importance of good books for children in translation from all parts of the world. Since 1994 worthy runners-up have been awarded ‘Honor’ status. The winner is announced in January.

For fans of Studio Ghibli, this fantastical art book transports readers to imaginary houses, each with their own story to tell. A dreamer’s tree house. A mechanic’s cottage. A submerged city.

In Houses with a Story, more than 30 imaginative houses and the people who make them home offer unexpected worlds to wander through and explore. Who is the mischievous bridgetower keeper? What does the witch grow in her garden? How does the postal worker tame his delivery dragons? In each house, readers discover the contents of rooms and closets, what’s at the top of the stairs and where shadowy hallways lead.

Story text provides background and details about the lives of the residents and hints about their past and future. Featuring lush illustrations, diagrams, and detailed descriptions of each character, the homes locations and landscapes open doors to whimsy, wonder, and endless possibilities. 

- Browns Books Synopsis