I didn't like the story in this book but the pictures tell their own story. I didn't get the riddles and the poems didn't rhyme and I didn't understand the meaning. But here's what I kind of got from reading this story. The pictures in the book are beautiful and show the readers about African cultures. At the end of the book it gives you possible answers to the riddles but I still don't understand them. I think you have to make up your own answers. ( )

The House with No Door is a collection of African Riddle-Poems that illustrates different spiritual experiences in African culture. Throughout this book, Ashley Bryan illustrates the poems that Brian Swann has written giving an accurate description of what the riddle is intended to mean. These African spiritual riddles were intended to be written for a young audience, giving children a better understanding of the importance of these riddles. With the help of Bryan's beautiful illustrations, these poems are brought to life and given a meaning that they might not have been able to understand without the drawings. ( )

This book is great for introducing African cultures. It is diverse in riddles and poems.
It reminded me of the Where's Waldo? books. The answers to the riddles are in the pictures.
This book can be used to discuss the Rain Forest animals.
It could also be used to introduce critical thinking.

Swann's "The House With No Door" is a book of African riddle-poems. The illustrations are made by watercolor and are very appealing to the eye these riddle poems allow the reader to see the world in a new light. This is not a book that I'd use to base lessons around, but it would be nice to have in the class library for free reading. Students would be able to figure out puzzles through reading. ( )