Hannah Barnaby (Monster and Boy) investigates the meaning of home in this pleasingly rhythmic picture book that brings readers into dwellings found in the natural and human world. Her lyrical narrative is paired with bold, cheerful illustrations by Sendak Fellow Frann Preston-Gannon (Sing a Song of Seasons), creating a charming tour that introduces children to the different forms home can take.
Barnaby points out that where one lives has the potential to be one of scores of arrangements, with a plethora of characteristics: shapes, sizes, locales, even stability. "Home is quiet,/ home is loud./ Home is humble,/ home is proud./ Home has corners,/ home is round./ Home is tunneled underground." Those that inhabit the different dwellings vary as greatly as the homes themselves. Mammals, birds, fish and insects all play vital roles in this delightful study, portrayed in cute yet realistic illustrations that make learning about the various abodes enjoyable. Preston-Gannon's use of subtle details pulls readers into her images, inviting them to inspect the representations for all their fascinating features, like furry white tails on sleeping bunnies, intricacies in a spider's web or the eyes of a snail traveling up a blade of grass. There is no doubt that the natural world is alive and full of amazing homes when one looks through the lens Preston-Gannon offers.
The catchy tempo, array of characters and stunning art make Home Is... an alluring picture book sure to have young readers looking for homes everywhere. As Barnaby concludes, "Home is anywhere you love." --Jen Forbus, freelancer