The Humongous Humdingle Family and the Tiny House

By Michelle Wilson &  P.J. Reece

Reviewed by Sandy Driessens

The Humongous Humdingle Family and the Tiny House is a big title and barely fits on the cover of this book, but as such, tells the whole story. The endpapers introduce you to the three generations of Humdingles and their animals, who live together in one cosy home. It’s squashy and noisy and everything has to be shared. One starlit night, they wish for a humongous house, but when it lands in their backyard and they move in, was what they wished for what they really wanted?

Author of Crocs Don’t Do Yoga, Michelle Wilson, has written a story cleverly describing the life of a multigenerational family sharing ONE tiny home and the challenges that go with it. Using emotive language e.g. grumbled, moaned and sighed in the children’s dialogue before and after the arrival of their huge house, gives a comical continuity to the text that makes the characters loveable and relatable.

PJ Reece’s simple yet delightful pen/pencil and wash style illustrations complement the text with the characters looking individual, but decidedly from one family. He has captured the feeling of cramped conditions as opposed to vast spaces, skilfully. The facial expressions and body language of the family members complete the unspoken dialogue.

This heart-warming story illustrates the difference between a house and a home. In an era of large homes and small families, it reminds me of the joy of, sharing a room and games with my siblings, hearing my parent’s and grandparent’s stories and noisy meals around the table. I can also relate to the one thing the family decided to keep from the humongous house … the extra toilet. That touch of humour at the end completed a charming story, that should be read aloud, for 3 to 90 year olds.

EK Books 2025

Michelle Wilson

P J Reece