A Place for Us: A Story in Pictures, by James E. Ransome. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House.2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"This book doesn't offer solutions on how we 
might fix this devastating national crisis, but
it shows readers that it's a problem that affects 
so many of us."

There is such beauty in this story told with no words. None are needed. James Ransome has created a story that will live long in the memory of those who share it. It begins with a note from the author: 

"My hope is that this book sparks readers to ask: in a country of vast resources, what is our responsibility to those without access to the basic necessities?"

Young children will see this story of a mother and son and the love they have for each other. School is done for the day, and Mama arrives to meet him as he says goodbye to a friend. Happy to see each other, they chat together as they head toward a nearby fast-food restaurant for dinner. Following that, as darkness begins to set in, they make their way through busy streets to the library where both work on homework and reading. As the librarian flashes the lights to let them know the library will soon close, they pack their bags and head out into the darkness. 

The glow of a streetlight and a quiet pathway lead them a park bench, where they sit and talk together. It isn't long until the boy tucks up under his mama's sweater and lays his head on her knee. Quiet animals look on from the darkness: an owl, a fox and a raccoon. Mama keeps a quiet watch over her son as he gets the rest he needs for school tomorrow. Once awake, he finds a clean shirt in her bag, and prepares for the new day. The two return to school, where they wave a warm goodbye before parting. 

Wonderful mixed-media illustrations fill the book's pages with the poignancy of their homeless life, while also brimming with the love the two share. Though life is not easy, they have joyful moments when they are together. Sharing the book with an older audience will surely encourage discussion and further learning about what can be done to help those who need the help that this family (and so mnay others) deserves. 

Home for Margaret, written by Denise Davy and illustrated by Berengere Delaporte. Groundwood, 2025. $21.99 ages 5 and up

 

"The next day Emma buys a red scarf with 
matching mittens and hat. She puts them
into a bag with oranges, apples and blueberry 
muffins. Mom fills another bag with bottles 
of water and blankets, and they head to the 
forest."

Weather here this week has taken a big-time dip in temperature, reminding us that November is usually this cold. It should be a reminder that many people are going to have great difficulty keeping warm. This gentle story introduces a young girl and her mom who know the meaning of caring and compassion for others. 

Emma and her mom are spending time outside in the Cherry Hill Forest. Snow covers the ground and Emma almost buries herself in it as she makes an angel there. No one else is on the trail as they hike along. They listen to the geese as they begin their migration south; Mom offers birdseed to feed the chickadees; and Emma runs off to see what the blue thing is under a nearby tree. 

To her surprise, it is a tent that looks a lot like an igloo. Inside there is a woman who has nowhere else to go. She steps out, looking cold and tired. Emma introduces herself, and asks the woman her name. It is Margaret. Mom catches up, and introduces herself as well. Emma has some questions. Margaret explains that she lives where she is, and that she does get cold. Snow surprised with its early arrival. She returns to her tent. 

At home, Emma has more questions for her social worker mother. Mom answers those questions before checking with shelters to see if there is a spot available to house Margaret. No such luck; the shelters are full. Emma has a few ideas. The bag she offers Margaret is accepted with thanks. At Christmas, Emma and her mom return with a warm coat and Christmas dinner. They learn that Margaret didn't like all the noise at an overcrowded shelter, and is hoping for a place she can call her own. 

Margaret's tent remains when Emma returns to the forest in the spring. Margaret is not there. The summer and autumn bring no change. One autumn day as they return from their hike, Emma spots a woman on the sidewalk who might just be Margaret. Hoping to help her before winter sets in once more, Mom calls a new agency. This time, the news is much better. 

An author's note explains that Margaret was a real person, a homeless woman she met one cold winter night while on assignment for her newspaper. She also offers readers a look at homelessness, and explains why it often happens. Communities are working to make conditions better, and everyone can play some small part by supporting shelters and food banks. 

I Know How to Draw an Owl, written by Hilary Horder Hippely and illustrated by Matt James. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House. 2024. $25.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Mom and I once had our own home, too - 
with a table and chairs
and a sleepy cat. 

But now we live in our old blue car. 
One day we packed it high with clothes, 
Grandma's cups and pots and soap, 
and drove and drove ... "

Her teacher describes for the class how to draw an owl; all of its parts. When Belle has finished, Ms. Rio shows it to the class. She is particularly pleased with the owl's wise eyes. She wonders how Belle can draw so realistically. Belle knows how she does it. She doesn't want to explain. 

After school, when the bus drops them off, the children return home. Each home is different, as are the children. In a plainspoken narrative voice, Belle lets readers know about her home now: an old blue car. it is a jarring revelation that is the truth for too many children today. Belle and her mother live in a shady park that offers what they need to live for now. 

When they hear the hoot owl, it offers the comfort of having something looking out for them. Belle listens every night, always hoping she will get the chance to see him. One moonlit night, the owl doesn't sing, but comes to sit on a branch near their car. That's when Belle sees what she is able to draw in her art class. 

With no plan to ever tell why she can draw the owl she does, Belle changes her mind when the new boy comes to school in 'an old blue car that looks just like mine'. Belle knows just what to do! 

What a beautiful story this is! The telling is pitch perfect. As a big fan of Matt James' exceptional artwork, I love his sweeping landscapes, and the comfort found in the darkness of the park. Three wordless double-page spreads offer a poignant look from Belle's perspective at the circumstance of their new life. 

Invisible, written by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and and illustrated by Gabriela Epstein, with color by Lark Pien. Scholastic, 2022. $16.99

"It's true, though. 
Isn't it? 
Maybe we can help. 

You can't tell anyone. And
it's only temporary ... until 
I can get back on my feet.
I have things under control ...
I've been looking for a job. 

We won't say anything. 
Promise." 

Their story begins in the principal's office at Conrad Middle School. Five Latinx students have been called in to talk about the events of April 18. They don't know why they are there, and assume they are in some kind of trouble. Their story is told from five distinct perspectives. The first assumptions made is that they are all Mexican, and that they don't speak English. 

Neither is true. George (the brain) is of Puerto Rican descent; Sara (the loner) is Mexican; Dayara (the tough kid) is Cuban; Miguel (the athlete) is Dominican; and Nico (the rich kid) is Venezuelan. As they tell their stories, readers learn about the challenges they are facing in their own lives outside of school. George is placed with 'students like you' when he is assigned community service hours helping Mrs. Grouser in the school's cafeteria. Though George does not speak Spanish fluently, he is assigned to be the translator for the group. They work together but don't know much about the others.  

While on the playground together, they meet a young woman and her daughter near the fence. They discover that the two are homeless and set out to help in any way they can. Of course that means breaking some of Mrs. Grouser's ridiculous rules. They must decide for themselves if helping is worth becoming more visible in a setting that makes ungrounded assumptions about them because of how they look. 

In her first graphic novel, Ms. Gonzalez creates complex and exceptional characters who are much more that who everyone assumes they are. The text is written in Spanish and English; the format is accessible and inspiring. Readers will relate to some of the issues they face. The focus of Ms. Epstein's expressive artwork is on the five and their personal stories, as well as the interactions between them. Together they find community far beyond what others expect of them and realize that they can make an important difference.  

The twist at the end makes it an even more satisfying read. 

https://youtu.be/CdIZ5gb0jCg

A Home for Us, written by Sharon Jennings and illustrated by Eva Campbell. Red Deer Press, Thomas Allen & Son. 2022. $19.95 ages 5 and up

 

"Light and dark. At school, Yula learns
this is called a day. Yula counts seven, 
and this is a week. Four weeks and 
this is a month. 

Yula plays and sings and learns and 
eats and prays and sleeps with others. 
Others are all like Yula. Mothers and 
fathers are late. 

Others are all orphans, too."

Readers quickly learn a hard lesson about Yula, a Kenyan orphan. She is 4. She is hungry; she cannot walk or talk; there are no parents. Stranger, who will soon be called Mum, picks her up, takes her to a hospital to be assessed, and gives her shelter. There Yula is fed, comforted, and guided in learning about the world. She and Mum form a strong bond before she is taken to an orphanage - it is a new word for the young girl. It is now home. 

Yula is greeted warmly by the children there. She learns more and more, still unsure about much of what is happening. After many days, Mum takes her to school where she learns with Teacher and the other children. When Mum leaves to do her work, Yula becomes part of the group of children living in the orphanage. After more than a month, Mum returns with a boy named Mutuku. Yula cannot contain her sadness and jealousy. She runs. It is a cold night of rememberance for her as she hides away from everyone. 

"Yula shivers. She remembers cold and dark.
Tummy is empty. Yula remembers hungry. 
Something howls. Yula remembers afraid. 

Yula remembers alone." 

Morning sunshine brings Yula back to Mum and Mutuku with an understanding for this new home that will include him, too.  

This warm and honest story, illustrated with gouache, acrylic and ink, introduces a very special young girl and her new life. Ms. Jennings credits those who introduced her to the children who live in the Hope Development Center, a Kenyan orphanage.                                                                                        

Stormy: a story about finding a forever home, by Guojing. schwartz & wade, Penguin Random House. 2019. $23.99 ages all ages

"A story about

        patience,

            kindness,

                and trust"



So much can be said without a word being spoken. I do hope that you read Guojing's first book, The Only Child (Schwartz & Wade, 2015). If not, I hope that my telling you about this second one sends you out to find it. Both are full of patience and hope.

Friendship and love are at the heart of this tale that begins with a bedraggled pup finding shelter under a wooden bench. A young woman comes along and sits to read her paper; the dog runs off and watches from afar. The woman is calm, quiet, and encouraging in trying to have it come closer. It is not to be. Once gone, the dog returns to its safe place.

The woman reappears on another day, offering a ball to sniff and quiet company. The pup approaches, chases the ball as it is thrown, but remains apprehensive. The young woman goes, leaving the dog and the ball. She is persistent, always offering comfort, patience and attempting reciprocal play.

One day, the pup follows from a distance as she heads off. He watches her cheery apartment window and waits. A bone-jarring storm forces the dog to seek protection from the elements. The young woman rushes to the park to find him. She cannot find him. Concerned and downhearted, she goes back home where she sees the ball and discovers the pup nearby.

There is no need for words. The drama of this marvelous tale is told in stunning artwork that alternates between full and half spreads, varied graphic panels always perfectly lit. Perfection!                                                                           

Can I Be Your Dog? Written and illustrated by Troy Cummings. Random House. 2018. $22.99 ages 4 and up

"Dear Butcher Lady!

Can I be your dog?

I think your butcher shop
would be a great
place for a puppy like me.

I could keep the floor
nice and clean!"

Readers will feel great empathy for Arfy. He is a big dog, and he is lonely. He is also homeless. Though finding a forever home might prove impossible, Arfy is not one to be deterred by misfortune. Rather he is creative, and persistent.

He begins his letter-writing campaign with the people in the yellow house. Focusing on his many good points, he lets them know they are first on his list. Their reply is disheartening. Next, the letter carrier delivers a plea to the butcher shop, then the fire station, then the junkyard guy and finally the 'last house on Butternut Street' which is boarded up and dark. Desperate times call for desperate measures, it seems. That final letter is returned, as one would expect. Arfy retreats to his cardboard box in the rain. Lo and behold, the sunny morning light brings a hand delivered letter.

Help comes from the most surprising places.

Troy Cummings has his readers fall in love with Arfy at first sight ... eyes full of charm as he holds a plaintive plea in his mouth! Arfy's character is evident as he writes with panache, then accepts with sadness each refusal. The letters and responses vary and are humorous. Arfy's demeanor will encourage laughter and delight. The letter carrier takes her job seriously, obviously worrying about the big dog as she delivers his pleas for a home.

Don't miss the back endpapers that show a map of Arfy's neighborhood, and provide one last note from Arfy. In it he describes how readers can help homeless animals.

It's a hit!

Seven Pablos, written by Jorge Lujan and illustrated by Chiara Carrer. Translated from Spanish by Mara Lethem. Enchanted Lion Books, Publishers Group Canada. 2018. $26.95 ages 6 and up

"There is also a Pablo living in
Ecuador. His home is in a part of
the Amazon jungle that is almost
impossible to reach. His mother
picks fruit for a living.
One day, a group of musicians
cross the dry riverbed and arrive
in his village. They add their songs
to the trills of the jungle. Pablo and
his mother are moved by their music.
Later, when the musicians drive off
in their ramshackle truck ... "

It is so important for all children to know the stories of other children who live in our world. There is much to learn when you consider those children, their circumstances, and respect the differences that exist child to child. Not only do they learn about other cultures, religions, and the wants and needs of each, they also learn about other places in the world and the history of those places. Kids have so many questions about everything ... they are constantly inquisitive. Sharing the lives of others builds understanding and empathy.

This story of seven boys, all named Pablo and living under varying circumstances in both North and South America, will be eye-opening and enlightening for every child who has a chance to hear their stories through thoughtful and memorable text. Jorge Lujan introduces each boy and offers a brief look at the life they lead. Each of their stories is told on two double page spreads and accompanied by telling images created by Chiara Carrer in color and graphite pencil. From Chile, to Ecuador, to Mexico, to New York, to Peru, to Rio de Janeiro, and ending in a trip from Mexico to the United States ...

"Pablo was born in Chiapas, Mexico, and is now on his way
to the U. S. border by train. His father was the first to cross,
followed by his mother. Both walking.

After two failed attempts, when border patrol sent him back,
Pablo sets out again. This time he wears his mother's
wedding ring around his neck."

These are children we don't often see, and we need to know their stories.

It is a book that is never too much for the children sharing it; it does, however, suggest some very complex issues. We learn only a little about each of the Pablos; the observations shared leave readers with questions concerning their future. What an excellent way to begin important conversations!  Honest and compelling, it deserves your attention.

The Old Man, written by Sarah V. and illustrated by Claude K. Dubois. Translated by Daniel Hahn. Gecko Press, Thomas Allen & Son, 2018. $23.99 ages 4 and up

"The old man is so tired ...
It was a hard night.
He might stretch out for
a bit.
Just for a few minutes.
Watch the people going by.
There's the man with the mail."

This is a book that is absolutely extraordinary from endpapers to endpapers. What lies between those morning and evening scenes is quietly stunning, and perfect. It is a testament to children and their ability to see what is important in the world.

Their days are parallel at the start. The little girl wakes up, and gets ready for her day at school. She walks into school as the new day begins. The old man awakens from his place on the sidewalk, cold and hungry. He walks to keep himself warm. Hunger consumes him. He meets up with a skinny cat, also looking for sustenance.

His day is long, following a cold and sleepless night. He watches the world pass him by, occasionally overcome by memories of a past life. He moves when told he is not welcome. There are no stores open yet to warm his cold, tired body. Maybe the shelter will help ease his hunger. When he can't remember his name, he chooses to leave rather than admit it. He finds shelter where he can as the day passes.

"The old man is thirsty. Apart from the sparrows, he's the only one
who knows how delicious this fountain water is!

There's nobody watching. The old man takes off his shoes.
Ahhh, that's better!

What if he stays here for a bit?
No one can see him under his blanket ... No one?"

The little girl sees. The little girl cares. She shares her sandwich, and leaves the old man with hope for better times ahead.

The soft tones of watercolor pencil illustrations create a mood that perfectly suits this quiet, sad, tender and uplifting story. It will give everyone who reads and shares it pause to consider kindness and attention to those left fortunate.

Teacup, wirtten by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Matt Ottley. Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin. 2016. 23.99 ages 6 and up

"Some days shone bright
on an endless sea of white.

Other days were so dark
that the boy longed for
the stars.

Every day he watched
the horizon for a speck
that he could follow
until it grew ... "

Where is home? For the young boy in this beautifully crafted tale, it is somewhere else. The story opens with him standing beside a rowboat, prepared to leave one home for another. We do not know why.

He has what he needs ... a book, a bottle, a blanket. He also has a teacup which contains earth from where he once played. His journey is both 'kind' and 'bold', his destination unknown. It is obvious that the teacup is exceptionally important to him. He holds it with careful concentration through each days' travel. He is constantly on the lookout for land, while also remembering the joys of the life he has left in his wake.

"The way the whales called out to one another
reminded him of how his mother
used to call him in for tea."

As he changes, so does the tree in his teacup.

"The tree gave him shelter and shade,
apples to eat, branches to climb,
and cozy nooks that he knew were
just perfect for daydreaming."

With land comes hope, and a chance to make a new life for himself.

There are no words to adequately describe the beauty found in Matt Ottley's gorgeous images. They shimmer, they acknowledge the elements and the mystery of the sea, they add hope and wonder to an incredible journey.

Remarkable!

The Bone Sparrow, written by Zana Fraillon. Orion, Hachette. 2016. $18.99 ages 10 and up

"Some of the oldies ask me to draw them things. Sometimes they ask me to draw them things I haven't ever seen, and they have to talk and talk until I can see in my head what they have in their rememberings. Queeny says they only do it is so that I shut up for a bit and stop pestering them for more stories. She reckons the only time I'm ever quiet is when I'm being told a story."

Let's begin November with a novel. I have read some pretty amazing ones this past month, and want to share them with you. To say this one held my attention from first page to last is definitely understating the impact it had on me!

I knew absolutely nothing about the Rohingya people of Burma. I am not happy with myself for that. After reading this compelling and heartbreaking story of Subhi and his family, I wanted to know more. That is the power that books have for all of us - they teach us about the world and its ways. They make our hearts ache and soar, and they provide windows into the lives of others.

Subhi's family is persecuted for their religion and forced to leave their village home. Their journey ends in an Australian detention camp, where Subhi is born. Ten years later, it is the only life he knows. To say it is not a good experience is putting it mildly. Subhi loves to hear his mother's stories of life in Burma, but she is slowly losing her will to live and the stories have become few and far between as her health declines. The family lives in hope that Subhi's father will find them there.

Despite the abusive guards, the terrible food, and the hopelessness felt by so many, Subhi does find friends. Each helps to sustain him and his sense of hope for a better future. It does not look promising. Each of these friends is worthy of the young boy's admiration. Harvey, one of the guards, is as kind as he can be when no one else is watching. Eli, also a refugee, is an older boy whose tireless attempts to make things better have an impact on his young friend. Subhi believes that the Great Sea is bringing signs from his father of better times. He dreams his dream often.

Then, there's Jimmie. Jimmie is an illiterate girl who lives outside the detention center fence. The two meet by chance, and Jimmie begins coming into the camp so that Subhi can read the stories that her dead mother has left in a notebook for her. She cannot read them herself. Several chapters of the book are written to focus on her life when she is not at the camp.

Subhi's narrative is strong and personal. Through his eyes, we are witness to moments of loss, anger, fear, and injustice. We also see tiny glimpses of love, hope and redemption ... and we come to know that stories do heal, even in the most brutal conditions.

This is not a easy book to read. It is quite lovely as well. It made me cry, and smile. It caused me to ache for those who live where there is no freedom, where conditions are deplorable, and where happiness is a distant dream. The friendships are strong, the characters unforgettable, their story eye-opening. Subhi, Eli, and Jimmie share personal stories that have helped to make their lives bearable. That is the true message of the book for me - the need for stories in our lives.

Paper Things, written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2015. $19.00 ages 10 and up

"Reggie gives a little salute, and I race back to the studio. I'm nearly there when I realize that I didn't even think to offer Reggie any of the change I'd collected today. Sure, I'd been searching extra hard to make up for the money I'd given him earlier this week, but the least I could have done was give him some of what I'd found today. After all, nobody was throwing bricks at my head ... "

Both parents are now dead, and Ari and her brother Gage have been living with Janna, a friend of her mother's, since their mother's death four years ago. Gage and Janna are like fire and water - they don't get along living in the same space. To get out from under her roof, Gage lies about having his own apartment and takes Ari to live with him there. The truth is that the two are moving from place to place, always in search of a something permanent.

Ari is a brilliant student whose grades are slipping because of the disruptions in her days. She may not get the chance to attend a school for the gifted if things don't change. Gage is doing the best he can, but it isn't enough to keep them from being homeless. There are many clues to the desperation and hopelessness that the young girl is feeling; no one seems to pick up on them. She is divided in her loyalties - wanting to trust Gage with her welfare and safety. She is also missing Janna and the stability that she provides.

The first person narrative brings immediacy and strong sympathy for Ari. She is conflicted and it is evident. Luckily, there are others in her life who offer kindness. Ari uses the imagined family she has cut from magazines to bring warmth and comfort as she tries to deal with loss. The game assures that she does not feel hopeless. She is doing her best to live up to her mother's dying wishes; a place in Carter middle school and making sure that she and Gage stick together. The stress is immense. Her life is not as it should be, and it is evident to her classmates when her hygiene is an issue.

It is a story that is both sad and hopeful; unfortunately, it is far too common. There is great love, bravery and an acceptance that something must be done to change the trajectory of the life that Ari and Gage are living. If you teach middle graders, or have one in your house, this is a story that needs to be shared with them.