What do you think?
Rate this book
The House That Drac Built
In a twist on a favorite cumulative verse, vividly and creepily illustrated in oils and pastels, a group of fearless trick-or-treaters set out to tame a dark house full of rambunctious creatures natural and unnatural. Reprint.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
3 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2018
This is a great story spoofing 'the house that Jack built'. Each page adds a line to the story. For a picture book, the art gets a bit gorey. The fiend of Bloodygore is a rough page. My nephew thought it was cool. I was unable to read this to the niece - she is not able to deal with scary right now and this book would be too much for her.
I love the artwork in the story. I love the look of Drac's house. There is plenty of good mood and tone in this book. The story kept upping the ante and they had some great characters. It does start with a bat and I do love bats. Halloween stories are basically the only place that use bats as characters besides stellaluna. I need a book with bats and giraffes - that would be awesome.
This is a great Halloween treat. I almost gave it 5 stars I enjoy it so much, but I don't know that I'm there yet.
I love the artwork in the story. I love the look of Drac's house. There is plenty of good mood and tone in this book. The story kept upping the ante and they had some great characters. It does start with a bat and I do love bats. Halloween stories are basically the only place that use bats as characters besides stellaluna. I need a book with bats and giraffes - that would be awesome.
This is a great Halloween treat. I almost gave it 5 stars I enjoy it so much, but I don't know that I'm there yet.
September 8, 2019
This is an add-on rhyming book, one thing that leads or chases another. The illustrations are unappealing and dark. The story leads to children walking into a haunted house and helping or warding off monsters. The moral is unclear but I assume that the story lesson is to not be afraid of monsters. But sometimes it is healthier to not walk into danger and fear helps discern when there is danger.
January 12, 2011
I loved it, very cute. I am going to buy it for all the little grandchildren and nephews. It's a "holiday" book, but good enough to read any time. It has a cute and unexpected ending and the drawings are wonderful.
April 5, 2011
I thought the illustrations were REALLY cool - they had an almost batik quality to them. The mummy was especially well done. This has a nice blend of scariness and comfort for kids, and allows them a little bit of spookiness before diffusing it with humor.
November 14, 2007
I am not sure I fully understand this book. The story is written in repetitive rhyme and starts by introducing various supernatural animals. The pictures are dark and the faces of the creatures, disturbing. Halfway through I was thinking that this was a really scary book even though nothing much was happening. Then, suddenly, trick-or treaters show up, go into the haunted house, and take care of the monsters. I am not sure what the little kids' motivation would be to walk into a house full of monsters and dress their wounds, but maybe the goal is to make readers not so afraid of monsters? Unclear.
October 13, 2013
This could be a read-a-loud or read by the child. The creatures may be scary for some but in the end, normal children put everything back together. Because younger children can have nightmares about stuff like this, I would only recommend it to those that have an interest in monsters and scary things.
June 13, 2022
this was my absolute FAVORITE BOOK as a kid
August 21, 2018
Spooky pictures! One of those stories that builds upon itself line by line. At the end the children come and help all the monsters, so that was cute :)
July 16, 2015
The House That Drac Built by Judy Sierra is under my own category. This is about the monsters in the house having problems and how the kids on Halloween come in and help them get back to normal. I liked this story because it showed kids being independent and taking matters into their own hands. I like that the kids aren't afraid of the monsters--because it opens new possibilities. I like that the book built on itself i.e. telling the part of the story we don't know yet and just adding it onto the story we already read. I would use the building of the story if I was teaching this book. Kids like repetition. This is a cool way to do it.
October 15, 2011
Fun cumulative tale, a slightly scary, Halloween version of the story . The narrative has rhymes and a rhythm that make it humorous to read aloud. And the illustrations are creepy, but not too scary. The ending has a bit of a twist, but makes the story end on a nice note. We enjoyed reading this story together.
June 30, 2017
Funny, some very clever illustrations, meant for very young folks. And yet it's spooky, scary enough for preteens. I liked it I just wished it had more words.
I felt it could have been detailed enough for a good story, and had potential to be so much more than it was.... do it over and make it denser and I'd LOVE it!
I felt it could have been detailed enough for a good story, and had potential to be so much more than it was.... do it over and make it denser and I'd LOVE it!
July 26, 2012
This is a Halloween tale that I found a bit spooky. The illustrations of monsters are kind of scary, especially for younger readers. My boys picked this out at the public library, but I'm not sure this is one that I'd get for my school library.
November 1, 2013
My own children liked it, but my 4th grade students have found it a bit too creepy for 2 years in a row. Probably won't take it to school any more. The illustrations of monsters and zombies are scary, but the human trick-or-treaters save the day.
September 22, 2015
A wonderful Read-aloud book that captures my 2.5yr old and loves to jump in and say the lines about the bat and cat. and keeps asking to read over and over-again. Creepy scary stuff is her never ending passion
October 24, 2008
Halloween themed version of "The House that Jack Built." The book has the same rhythm and rhyme from the original with dark imagery.
Good read-aloud for a younger audience at Halloween.
Good read-aloud for a younger audience at Halloween.
July 12, 2009
Clever Halloween version of The House that Jack Built. The illustrations were intricate in an unusual way, kinda creepy--and perfect for this story!
Read
April 16, 2010This is an interesting twist on The House that Jack Built. It's a little weird and grusome. I would suggest to definately check it out before you read it to your kids.
November 1, 2010
A fun play on "This is the House that Jack Built" for Halloween.
December 19, 2016
Read at Halloween Story Time on 10/20/11:
December 2, 2011
A gentle nod to The House That Jack Built, this predictable Halloween tale can be enjoyed at any time of the year (as evidenced by the month we enjoyed it in our household!)
January 1, 2023
Really cute retelling of the house that jack built for Halloween. The illustrations are spooky--perfect for the story. It's been a repeat in our house and hasn't gotten old. Fun to read aloud.
November 2, 2012
Fun book, lots of fantasy creatures. The kid I read it with loved it. For me I just thought it was cute. A fun read but nothing really to it. But it did have some fun rhymes and fun pictures.
March 8, 2013
This was another Halloween book that my middle schoolers were enthusiastic about when I read it to them. It's a great read-aloud with add-on repetitive text which the kids said along with me.
November 5, 2013
Fun Halloween story that repeats and builds so kids can predict and chant along. Creepy characters in a non-creepy story.
February 17, 2015
Absolutely adorable
March 25, 2014
Ayden thought this book was boring. He wasn't really happy with it. 3/25/2014
May 31, 2014
A great cool and creepy book to read to kids around Halloween!
September 28, 2014
Five stars only because of the artwork.
January 27, 2016
read-aloud
October 12, 2017
Picture Book #3: This is a creepy, but fun book that has a silly twist to it. Great for kids of all ages. Especially fun to read around Halloween.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.