I enjoyed the story that follows Joan, a curious young girl who visits her friend Jerome’s magical home. In Jerome's home the chores do themselves and there is a little bit of magic everywhere you look. It’s a feast for the imagination when you spot mermaids in the bathtub and gnomes that play trombone. Just when you think this book is only about fun and magic, the story take a turn. Joan soon learns that even a magical home has its challenges, and sometimes, the real magic lies not in perfection, but in friendship, kindness, and love.

Hmmm… This rhymed picture book really struggles with the verse at times – both with some iffy rhyming and with the meter and rhythm of it all – and has some art that certainly fails to stand out. But I think it's worth considering – the moral is one that shows we aren't always pleased with having a perfect, magical house, complete with perfect, magical garden gnomes, bath mermaids and so on – for sometimes the humdrum and ordinary is fine. Especially if that's where a friend lives, and you can be happily non-judgemental about each other.

For that's the situation here, with a lad in a wonderland of a home he can see some downsides to, and a girl in something much more mundane. We might wish to be like him, what with his waterslide into the garden pool, but she doesn't worry too much about that, and we ought to be more like him in seeing the merits of being with the girl, even if her home is on the plainer and smaller side. I like the anti-materialistic side of this, even if isn't really of the quality to make anyone jealous of any of its owners. Three and a half stars, perhaps, is a little generous and based on the merit of the lesson rather than its qualities, for it is plain to see how it could be improved, but it's still a welcome creation.

I absolutely adored Jerome’s Magical Home! It’s a delightful, imaginative picture book bursting with charm and whimsy. From singing faucets to trombone-playing gnomes, every page is filled with magical surprises that had my son and me smiling, laughing, and completely enchanted. Felicia Jones has created a world that feels both fantastical and cozy—like stepping into a dream you never want to leave. Beyond all the fun, there’s a beautiful message at its core: Joan learns that even in the most magical places, what truly matters is love, kindness, and being there for others. It’s a joyful, heartwarming story that’s sure to become a bedtime favorite in our home. I can’t recommend it enough!

A huge thanks to NetGallery for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

The pictures were delightful and the message was sweet. Just because you don't have everything your friends home does doesn't make your own home less special. Especially to another person. I look forward to reading this to my two grandchildren, ages six and four. Recommended. 4 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the author Felicia Jones for a chance to read an ARC version of this book.

The pictures were vibrant and had enough happening that you could discuss them with a child. My preview didn't have any pages with words. I don't know if this was a glitch or it was a wordless book.