"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.
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