Living on his own, far from any people, a mountain grows tired of his solitary life and decides that he would like to live in a house like people do. Unfortunately, when he tries to move closer to a human settlement, he precipitates panic in the residents, who flee before him, leaving him as lonely as before. Only Thomas, a young boy living in a town in the mountain's path, sticks around to figure out what the mountain wants. Can he figure out a way to gratify the mountain's wish, while also safeguarding the people and animals who need to mountain to stay where it is...?

The only known children's story from celebrated New Zealand author and playwright Maurice Shadbolt, The Mountain Who Wanted to Live in a House makes for an oddly engaging book, one featuring an unusual and unexpectedly poignant tale. I thought the mountain's loneliness was well captured in the text, and appreciated the solution that Thomas and his artist father were able to come up with, in solving the central problem in the story. I'm not sure that the artwork by Renee Haggo was really to my taste - it felt a little flat to me - but it didn't detract from the story. I'm not sure to whom I would recommend this one - perhaps those seeking picture-books from New Zealand, or looking for children's stories featuring the connection between nature and art? - but I definitely enjoyed it. ( )