and cardboard to build a roof.
These rocks will work as a
porch.
My pen pal could still write
me letters as long as I let him
know my new address.
These strawberries should last me through the winter ..."
Does there come a time in every child's life when they think they need to make a run for it; to find a place of their own and show their independence and resourcefulness? I am sure I felt that way at times. It is just so long ago that I cannot pinpoint a specific memory. I do know that a majority of children, at one time or another, feel the need to flee.
In an always busy and noisy house, Kate feels left out. Her mother has her flute students. Her sister is too busy being Hannah to worry about her little sister. There's nothing for Kate to do but to run away. She slips a note under her mother's door. Mom doesn't even notice it ... even though Kate settles in for a long wait to see if she will.
Kate is not even sure they will notice that she's gone when she finally makes the decision. Out in the backyard under the lilac bushes, she finds a safe haven. She builds herself a cardboard house and scouts the neighboring territory for available food. There are a few things she has to do to ensure that her new place will be just what she wants it to be. She does make sure there is room for Hannah, and then for Mom. In fact, the new house looks a lot like the old, and it's perfect for 'a little while'.
The text is just right for early readers. Making Mango (the cat) the scapegoat for inviting her sister and mother into her new abode is astute reasoning for the target audience. Images created in monoprinting, ink and digital collage have an inviting warmth about them. The natural setting is appealing and a great place for a new adventure ... without straying too far from home.
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