Book Birthday Bash: The House That Lou Built

Happy Book Birthday to THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT!

Everyone, #MeetLOU! Lou’s twelve, loves DIY, and has a big dream: to build her own tiny house. Lou comes from a huge extended Filipino American family and while she loves them dearly, she sometimes longs for a space of her own (what kid doesn’t?!). However, building her own house isn’t going to be so easy…

We’re so happy you’re at our party for middle-grade novel THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT. Join in the fun…

PARTY SOUNDS…

For adventuring with friends: “With a Little Help from My Friends” by The Beatles

For the day of building: “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers

For discovering what’s inside of her when the building gets tough: “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keyes

PARTY FOOD…

We’ve got a full-on Filipino party with tables full of lumpia (eggrolls), pancit (noodles), rice, halo-halo (dessert with iced milk and the yummiest toppings like jackfruit, coconut and red beans that you “mix-mix” together), and of course, tiers and tiers of ube cupcakes (Filipino purple yam).

Tinikling dancing featured in The House That Lou Built

PARTY GAMES…

Get ready for a special Tinikling performance! The dance involves two people beating and tapping bamboo poles on the ground and against each other while they swirl and jump into and out of the poles. Lou and her friends and cousins, who all dance in a Filipino folkdance troupe, will star.

PARTY FAVORS…

Pink tool belts (hammers included) for all!

THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT is written by Mae Respicio and published by Wendy Lamb Books/Random House. You can buy this book at the retailers below…

Mae Respicio

Mae Respicio grew up in Northern California and like the main character in her debut middle grade novel, spent many childhood summers dancing in a Filipino folk dance troupe. Mae is a past recipient of a PEN Center USA Emerging Voices Fellowship. She’s been a writer-in-residence at Hedgebrook and Atlantic Center for the Arts and has published a variety of musings on parenthood. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area, not far from the ocean and the redwoods. Visit her online at www.maerespicio.com.

Did you have fun at the party? Tell the author in the comments!

KEEP CELEBRATING! BUY THIS BOOK AT: IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Random House