When We Stayed Home

Publication May 2, 2023

I loved the sweetly positive tone of this one. Since the wearing of masks is not that far away in our past, at least we hope it's in the past, it was fun to see even that adorable dog in the grinning mask. I actually had a similar one, albeit more as a decorative cover over the more efficient ones, so it brought back a smile. The illustrations themselves are both realistic and whimsical, keeping to the fun, positive tone of the book. I think my favorites were the fort full of books and the one of the toilet paper styled cookie decoration. They do a great job of showing that while the boy had moments when his "eyes leaked tears", he also managed to find ways to both be helpful and entertain himself.

Overall, "When We Stayed Home" conveys a message of optimism, even mixed with tears, as one child is depicted dealing with how his world became smaller due to the epidemic. One photo shows him with a globe in his hands, a subtle reminder that while we may be restricted from socializing and moving about freely, there is a world of possibilities out there for those who look. The illustrations alone will entertain children, with perhaps any adult reading with them asking simple questions about the pictures. For instance, what was the meaning behind the "6 Feet" cookie decoration? What do you spy in his fort? What would you want to share via Zoom (or a known to the child program) with family or friends? What can you do with your dog/cat/pet that is fun inside? I'm sure others will have better ideas.

Bottom line, lots of ideas within, ideas that don't need frighting times to be used, all seen from a child's perspective. Perfect quote to tie things together at the end, too. "I didn't get everything I wanted in lockdown but I got everything I needed."

Thanks #NetGalley and #IPG - #IndependentPublishersGroup - #Meteor17Books for reminding us of what is positive and hopeful in our sometimes scary world.

According to my students, we desperately need more books written about Covid. This picture book illustrated all of the things-good and bad- that went on when everyone stayed home. I liked the balance of talking about advantages, but the reality of how hard it was was also explained.