Home - by Matt de la Peña (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An exploration of the various places, people, and feelings that create a sense of home and provide refuge in the face of instability"--

Book Synopsis

From a Newbery Medal-winning author and a bestselling illustrator, the powerhouse duo behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Love, comes a deeply moving ode to the places we feel safe, loved, and true to ourselves--wherever they might be.

*"Beckons readers from the first page . . . Simply divine." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Home is a tired lullaby
and a late-night traffic that mumbles in
through a crack in your curtains.

Home is the faint trumpet of a distant barge
as your grandfather casts his line
from the edge of his houseboat.

So begins this stirring celebration of home in its many forms. For home is an idea more profound than the walls we build up around ourselves. It's the family that shows its love through small gestures every day. It's the community that sees one another through hard times. And it's the wonder of the natural world, a refuge we share with every living thing on Earth.

With lyrical text and expressive artwork, Matt de la Peña and Loren Long's meditation on the universal pull of home, whatever its form, is destined to become a new classic that will be cherished by readers of every age.

Don't miss the Spanish-language edition of this book, Hogar.

Review Quotes

Praise for Home

* "Beckons readers from the first page, capably pulling them from scenes of ordinary comforts to musings on sorrow and back . . . [H]ome 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 . . . Simply divine." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "A moving story about cultivating home in different places--one that leans into themes of healing, resilience, and finding center." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "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. 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.--School Library Journal, starred review

"Poignant . . . Whether depicting calm or disaster, Long's art is full of emotion, and each of his textured acrylic paintings is a masterclass in color and shading. The story [highlights] 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." --The Horn Book

About the Author

Matt de la Peña is the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street. He is also the author of the award-winning picture books The Perfect Place, Patchwork, Milo Imagines the World, Carmela Full of Wishes, Love, and A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, as well as a number of critically acclaimed young adult novels. Visit him at mattdelapena.com.

Loren Long is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis series, which is now an animated television series. He's also the illustrator of the New York Times bestsellers Change Sings by Amanda Gorman, Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama, and Love by Matt de la Peña. Visit him at LorenLong.com.