• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

There's no neighborhood like a Marianne Dubuc neighborhood --- this time in an apartment building!

It's a special day at 3 Maple Street. It's Little Rabbit's birthday! His mother makes him his favorite breakfast. His sister has drawn him a picture. And, best of all, he's having a birthday party! His friends are invited, his father is decorating, and his mother is baking a cake. But that's not the only thing going on at 3 Maple Street today. The Cat family is moving in upstairs ... the Fox family is having a new baby ... Mr. Owl is trying to sleep ... there's so much happening inside (and outside) this lively building, it's hard to keep track!

This multilayered picture book from international award-winning Marianne Dubuc allows readers to peer into the homes of all the charming animal families in the building on every spread. Though there is one main story, captured in the text, there are multitudes of other stories-within-the-story, told in visual narratives. Dubuc's winsome one-of-a-kind illustrations include heaps of clever details for children to pore over, promising something new to discover with every look and encouraging visual literacy in readers and prereaders. There are terrific social studies connections here on the concepts of community, inclusiveness and belonging.

Marianne Dubuc studied visual arts and graphic design before beginning her career as an award-winning author and illustrator. In Front of My House, originally published in French as Devant ma maison , is her first book to be published in English. Marianne lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Marianne Dubuc's profile page

Dubuc's delightful domestic dramas will entertain children and adults alike.

Kirkus Reviews

... a sweet story about friendship and inclusion that can only add another interactive level to story time.

CM Magazine

The reward is in entering the book again and again.

School Library Journal, starred review

... this Richard Scarry-esque book, with its expressive and appealingly drawn animal characters, begs to be read multiple times.

Horn Book, starred review

This book will prompt contented rereads and conversations about neighbors, sharing, and community.

Publishers Weekly, starred review