Bill Bailey, Please Come Home

Reviewed by: Diana Lopez

Review Rating: 5 Stars 

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers’ Favorite

For children, learning to live together is essential and can be fun. Moreover, being part of a community allows us to learn new skills. Bill Bailey, Please Come Home: The Shotgun Shack Kitties by A.N. Stewart highlights the importance of socialization and communication. Bill Bailey is an adorable kitty who loves to go for walks and learn everything he can about the world. He greets his neighbors when walking down the street. People can't understand him, and that makes him sad. However, some older cats reveal a secret to him: music can help humans understand them as it is a universal language. Bill is excited about discovering this and gathers his feline friends to learn together and discover the power of music.

I liked Bill Bailey, Please Come Home because of the values it teaches, such as caring for others, harmony, and collaboration when working as a team. The narrative is entertaining and ideal for teaching young readers a love of animals and music. The descriptions are clear, emphasizing pleasant environments and aspects such as the scent of flowers. The images are wonderful, showing a variety of felines and musical instruments. The colors are cheerful, and the settings have many details, such as houses, flowers, and animals, giving a vivid perspective of New Orleans. I loved how A.N. Stewart combined the story with a song, making the reading more interactive. In addition, Bill Bailey is a kind and friendly character and a great role model. Children will learn the value of music and how wonderful it is to share moments with friends.