When We Stayed Home
by Judith Proffer; Tara Fass LMFT
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Pub Date May 02 2023 | Archive Date Apr 28 2023
Independent Publishers Group | Huqua Press
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Description
[D]irect and readable. The delicious sherbet-colored illustrations depict a soft, idyllic suburban setting and usefully identify the real helpers as global health care providers. An appealing account of the sunnier side of lockdown. – Kirkus Reviews
With whimsical illustrations and relatable prose, When We Stayed Home is a reminder of how young children navigated big feelings and cheered themselves on during the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic. Honoring their role as "super helpers” they made sure to wash their hands, wear masks, social distance, and stay home.
With the family dog as a trusty sidekick, the super-helper in When We Stayed Home builds virus-free forts, decorates toilet paper-shaped cookies, enjoys screen visits and dance parties with family and friends, and relies on resourcefulness, creativity, and imagination to weather the virus storm.
Young children will recognize their own experiences and emotions as they see another child paint endless pictures and draw chalk art, read books and do puzzles, wave “hello” to masked neighbors, play under a bluer-than-usual sky, and feel all the feelings as they miss school, playgrounds, and friends and family while staying in their own houses.
When We Stayed Home was inspired by Judy Proffer's resilient five year-old nephew, who continued to find moments of comfort and mirth in home, nature, adventures, and activities even while longing for the virus to go far, far away and by co-author and licensed family and marriage therapist Tara Fass’s work with families to maneuver the bumpy road of the pandemic with tools, optimism, and hope.
This gentle book serves as a time capsule for an uncertain time, celebrates the gifts of family, home, imagination and love, and honors the true heroes of covid.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781957317076 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 48 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
June P, Reviewer
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.
Destiny L, Educator
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.
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