Too Tall Houses
Ages: 0-7
- ★★★☆☆
- ★★★★☆
- ★★★☆☆
- ★★★★☆
- Empathy
- Patience
- Complaining
- Friendship
Values
Struggles
Why Should My Child Read This Book?
This book highlights two important lessons for children. First, it illustrates how easily friendships can be damaged when we become consumed by our own desires and fail to consider how our choices affect others. The story demonstrates the importance of empathy, selflessness, and putting the needs of others alongside our own.
Second, the story reinforces the importance of treating neighbors with kindness and consideration and nurturing those relationships—an obligation the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly emphasized. The book encourages children to be mindful of those around them and to recognize that even small acts of kindness can strengthen the bonds between neighbors.
How Can I Use This Book?
- Name one way Owl could have been kinder to Rabbit and one way Rabbit could have been kinder to Owl?
- When Owl complains that the vegetables are getting too tall, how is Owl feeling? He is upset that he can no longer see the forest, which is important to him.
- Why was it important for Owl to be able to see the forest? Many owls hunt by sitting and observing carefully until they see or hear their prey and then they fly down and capture their prey.
- What could Rabbit have done instead of shrugging off the complaint? He could have trimmed a few vegetables to allow Owl a view, helped build Owl another sitting spot from where he could see the forest, or planted vegetables farther away.
- Owl and Rabbit are neighbors. What are the rights of neighbors in Islam? Some important rights of our neighbors include: Treating them with respect and kindness, honoring their privacy, checking in on them regularly, assisting them when needed, and giving gifts to strengthen your relationship.
- The Quran states, “Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbors” (4:36). Why is it important to be kind to neighbors? It helps us maintain the ties of our community, gives up peace in our homes, and we are honoring Allah’s ﷻ command and the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed sunnah.
- Brainstorm with your child three ways you can be kind to your neighbors (greeting them with a smile, sharing food, taking out or putting away their trash bins, etc.)
- Look up information about owls and rabbits. What kind of houses does each live in? What do they eat?
- Did it take Owl and Rabbit less time or more time to build a house together? What about you? Is it easier to do something with a friend or to do it alone?
What’s This Book About?
Good friends learn a small but important lesson. Owl and Rabbit are good friends and live in two small houses next to each other. They are perfectly happy . . . until Rabbit's garden gets in the way of Owl's view. So Owl builds his house a little taller. Only that blocks the sun from Rabbit's vegetables. So Rabbit builds his house taller. And soon it's a house-building frenzy and the two now not-so-good friends have the two tallest houses in the world! All it takes is a gust of wind to remind them that maybe living smaller and together is a much better way to remain friends.
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Anything I need to be aware of?
VIEW FLAGSGenres: Fantasy, General Fiction, STEM
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.
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