Home Place

A modern-day family discovers an abandoned homestead while hiking in the woods. Through the remnants of stone foundations, rusted tools, and wild lilies, they piece together clues about the people who once lived there. A young girl in the family envisions the daily life of the former inhabitants. The story moves between present and past as she reconstructs their routines, challenges, and connections to the land through her imagination. Jerry Pinkney's watercolor illustrations capture both timeframes - the current forest reclaiming the home site and the historical scenes the girl pictures. His artwork earned the book a 1991 Golden Kite Picture Book Award. The narrative explores themes of time, memory, and the lasting imprint people leave on the places they inhabit. It prompts reflection on how stories and histories persist in physical spaces long after their original inhabitants are gone.

Reviews indicate this children's book resonates with readers for its portrayal of an abandoned home coming back to life through nature. Many note it serves as a starting point for discussions with children about change, loss, and renewal. Readers praise: - Jerry Pinkney's detailed watercolor illustrations - The poetic, rhythmic text - Its ability to explain decay and rebirth to young children - The balance of melancholy and hope Common criticisms: - Some find the theme too sophisticated for very young children - A few mention the abandoned house setting feels eerie - The pacing can feel slow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.04/5 (93 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (11 reviews) One parent noted: "My 5-year-old asks for this repeatedly - she's fascinated by how nature reclaims the house." A teacher commented: "The artwork carries the story. Students spend time studying each page's intricate details."

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Window by Jeannie Baker Through wordless scenes viewed through a window, the book chronicles changes to a neighborhood and landscape over time.

🏠 Crescent Dragonwagon was born Ellen Zolotow and is the daughter of celebrated children's book author Charlotte Zolotow and Hollywood biographer Maurice Zolotow. 🎨 Illustrator Jerry Pinkney won the Caldecott Medal and five Caldecott Honors during his career, making him one of the most decorated children's book artists in history. 🌿 The book reflects a growing trend in the 1990s of environmental awareness in children's literature, highlighting the relationship between human habitation and nature. 🏛️ Stone foundations like the one featured in the book can last for centuries, and thousands of these "cellar holes" from abandoned homesteads can still be found throughout New England. 🖋️ The author has written over 50 books across multiple genres, including children's literature, cookbooks, and poetry, and ran the acclaimed Dairy Hollow House inn and restaurant in Arkansas.