"And, as you open a book,
chairs pulled up together,
flipping pages in perfect harmony -
first their turn, then yours - home
seems closer with every word you read."
As the book opens, a family that includes a child and a grandmother share space in an inviting house. The page turns; that house goes up in smoke and the family is displaced. The second child lives in a camper home on a green space that allows for picnic dinners, birdwatching, and brilliant nighttime skies. The third child is helping his mother unpack boxes from a truck bed, while checking out the apartment that will be their new home. Uncertainty about the new space is top of mind for both.
All three meet at school. They find a new kind of home with found friends and shared activities. No matter the past, the present, or future - all can be shared when you know what others call home. With time spent together learning about each other, a new kind of peace is created. This one is filled with adventure, excitement, new experiences, and most of all, kindness and connection. It lives wherever you are, built on memories of where you are now.
"Home is ... a memory.
Home is ... a dream.
Home is right here, right now."
Settings captured in watercolor and gouache are filled with details that offer opportunity for careful observation and discussion. Peaceful and engaging, it makes for a lovely read aloud.
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