Jane Yolen's charming, universal tale about keeping boredom at bay on a rainy day is paired with richly detailed illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin.

It's raining, and Davey and Alison Isabelle are bored. They don't want to play checkers. They don't want to play school. They don't want to read books. And they're starting to get on each other's nerves. "I know," says Davey brightly. "Let's play Soft House." Together, after some serious scrounging and with the supervision of Mr. Cat, the siblings prove that a wall of cushions, an awning of blankets, a strategically placed flash-light, and a plateful of cookies can create the perfect setting for letting their imaginations soar.