ALISON'S HOUSE Trottier, Maxine Illustrated by Michael Martchenko Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1993. 32pp, galley, ISBN 0-19-540968-X (paper) $5.95. CIP Pre-school to Grade 2/Ages 3 to 7 Reviewed by Pearl Herscovitch Volume 21 Number 6 1993 November Alison's big family lives in a little house. Everyone has to take turns using the single bathroom and they all try to squeeze in at the table at mealtime. Alison's cheerful response to the constant pushing, grabbing and squeezing is "I love it here and I'm never going to leave." After the new baby arrives, the whole family goes shopping for a bigger house, but Alison insists, "You can move. I love it here and I'm never going to leave." On moving day, Alison promises to write, and, since the new house is just up the hill, she can wave at her family through the window. The new couple that buys the house welcomes her into their quiet family. Alison doesn't have to wait to use the bathroom and there is no poking or shouting at the dinner table, but Alison misses her big, boisterous family. The new parents drive Alison to her new home, where she tells her parents that she's "back to stay" and she's never going to leave. Martchenko's exuberant water-colours capture the chaos with children and parents in constant activity. He conveys Alison's joy over their busy, crowded life-style and her intense disappointment over their move. Teachers and parents of young children will find this reassuring story a useful introduction to the topic of moving and change. Pearl Herscovitch is an instructional services librarian at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta