Home

Starred review from November 25, 2024
De la Peña and Long, the duo behind Love, reteam to consider another universally resonant concept: home. A series of warmly lit scenes show children in residences where home is sensed in a city’s nighttime hours (“a tired lullaby/ and... late-night traffic that mumbles”) and vibrations beneath a flight path (“the rumble/ you feel through the floorboards”). When one’s “heart syncs up/ with the hurry of the world,” home becomes further defined by movement and perception (“an early-morning jackhammer,” “the eighteen-wheel groan/ of your father’s big rig”). Hard times and weather emergencies are real, second-person text communicates, inviting readers to think of home as more than a physical place: “not a house you leave behind/ but the people who walk beside you.” Sparkling landscapes suggest these are home, too: “not the walls we build up/... but the wild, wild world outside.” In a striking portrait, a child looks directly at the reader, the bright reflection in each pupil a tiny image of Earth, and a startling reminder of the planet everyone calls home. The creators tell a moving story about cultivating home in different places—one that leans into themes of healing, resilience, and finding center. Characters are represented with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Steven Malk, Writers House.

Starred review from January 1, 2025
In the wake of their lyrical rumination onLove (2018), de la Pe�a and Long ponder the incomparable possibilities of home. Glimpses plucked from everyday lives--a parent and child cozying up at bedtime, a man fishing as his grandchild observes, a youngster at play as an airplane flies just beyond the window--offer potential representations of home. Perhaps home is a cozy bed on a big rig or a fancy high-rise with its doorman and pool. But, as de la Pe�a notes, "a home can be lost," whether due to a flood, a job loss, or other unfortunate tides of life. The author's constant reference to "you" beckons readers from the first page, capably pulling them from scenes of ordinary comforts to musings on sorrow and back. From there, home becomes a quiet father's gentle guidance, a hardworking grandma rolling tortillas, and a welcome from a kind teacher. These moments of simple yet exceptional connections among people, and between cities and nature, build to a crescendo that harkens back to the "thump, thump, thump" of the human heart--a potent reminder of life's promises. Similarly, Long's acrylic art transforms portraits of ordinary days and nights into formidable reveries, featuring folks varied in skin color and cultural background. Of course, the penultimate double-page spread framed around a child's pensive face--Earth reflected in the character's eyes--is the most astounding. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. Simply divine.(Picture book. 4-8)

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March 1, 2025
The duo behind Love (rev. 3/18) returns with another meaningful picture book meant to tug on readers' heartstrings -- this time, on the topic of home. It begins with glimpses into the mundane moments people may experience every day: a parent rocks a baby to sleep, a child watches their grandfather fishing from his houseboat, a family hurries out the door for a busy day. The second-person text describes not just the accompanying images but also the sounds and sensations: the vibration of a construction site, the hum of traffic. However, with a poignant reminder, the tone shifts: "But a day may come when you learn how a home can be lost." A family clings to one another as emergency workers carry debris from a storm. A child looks through a pickup truck's rear window, belongings packed in the back, as their no-longer-home recedes in the distance. Whether depicting calm or disaster, Long's art is full of emotion, and each of his textured acrylic paintings is a master class in color and shading. The story shifts once again to highlight all of the wonder and beauty of our greater home, Earth, reminding us that though four walls may be lost, the concept of home is much bigger. Hill Saxton

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from January 31, 2025

K-Gr 3-What makes a place a home? What does home feel like? Playing with blocks, enjoying an afternoon by the lake, a late-night story before bed-these and more can help define what a home might be for a child. But what happens when their physical home changes, perhaps due to loss and events out of their control? Hopefully, they'll come to understand that home isn't always a physical place, but the warm hand of someone they love, special moments with people who care, and taking time to appreciate the world, animals, and wildlife around. The lovely and poetic text will bring readers a feeling of calm and encourage them to slow down and pause. Heartwarming and striking illustrations depict families in embrace, moments of peace, and even difficult scenes of loss and hardship-but readers will always find love and home in each image. Both language editions are eloquent and will evoke feelings of tranquility and peace. VERDICT A stunning and lyrical title that is a perfect addition to English and Spanish-language picture book collections for children, and an excellent choice to share with children of all ages.-Selenia Paz

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