The House by the Lake: The True Story of a House, Its History, and the Four Families Who Made It Home

"The House by the Lake" is a deeply moving historical narrative, beautifully illustrated, that tells the true story of a single house near Berlin and the four very different families who lived within its walls over a hundred years. From a kind Jewish doctor's family, displaced by the Nazis, to a Nazi composer, wartime refugees, and a secret-police informant, the house stands as a silent witness to the profound changes of the 20th century, including World War II and the rise of the Berlin Wall. Author Thomas Harding, the great-grandson of the man who built the house, brings this personal history to life, offering a gentle yet powerful exploration of belonging, loss, and the resilience of both people and places. It's an excellent book for ages 4-11, perfect for opening conversations about history, empathy, and what makes a place feel like home.

History comes home in a deeply moving, exquisitely illustrated tale of a small house, taken by the Nazis, that harbors a succession of families—and becomes a quiet witness to a tumultuous century. The days went around like a wheel. The sun rose, warming the walls of the house. On the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, a wooden cottage stands on the shore of a lake. Over the course of a hundred years, this little house played host to a kind Jewish doctor and his family, a successful Nazi composer, wartime refugees, and a secret-police informant. During that time, as a world war came and went and the Berlin Wall arose just a stone’s throw from the back door, the house filled up with myriad everyday moments. And when that time was over, and the dwelling was empty and derelict, the great-grandson of the man who built the house felt compelled to bring it back to life and listen to the story it had to tell. Illuminated by Britta Teckentrup’s magnificent illustrations, Thomas Harding’s narration reads like a haunting fairy tale—a lyrical picture-book rendering of the story he first shared in an acclaimed personal history for adult readers.