One day, when Emma and her mom are hiking through Cherry Hill Forest, they spot a blue tent in the snow — and inside lives a woman named Margaret!
Emma wonders why she’s there, until Mom, who is a social worker, explains: “Some people have lost their job. Some have a health problem. No one chooses to be homeless.”
Emma picks out a red hat, a scarf and a pair of mittens to keep Margaret warm, and she and her mom visit Margaret throughout the winter. But in the spring, Margaret is gone! Emma is worried, and wonders what has happened to her.
Seasons pass and Emma finally spots a woman downtown wearing red mittens! She is relieved — and she knows that there’s one more thing she and her Mom can do to show Margaret that they care about her.
A sensitive portrayal of a person experiencing homelessness, as seen through the eyes of a child. Includes an author’s note.
Key Text Features
writing inspiration
author’s note
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
One day, when Emma and her mom are hiking through Cherry Hill Forest, they spot a blue tent in the snow — and inside lives a woman named Margaret!
Emma wonders why she’s there, until Mom, who is a social worker, explains: “Some people have lost their job. Some have a health problem. No one chooses to be homeless.”
Emma picks out a red hat, a scarf and a pair of mittens to keep Margaret warm, and she and her mom visit Margaret throughout the winter. But in the spring, Margaret is gone! Emma is worried, and wonders what has happened to her.
Seasons pass and Emma finally spots a woman downtown wearing red mittens! She is relieved — and she knows that there’s one more thing she and her Mom can do to show Margaret that they care about her.
A sensitive portrayal of a person experiencing homelessness, as seen through the eyes of a child. Includes an author’s note.
Key Text Features
writing inspiration
author’s note
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Oct 7, 2025 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 8.75 in x 11.125 in |
| Written By |
DENISE DAVY is a nationally recognized award-winning journalist who specializes in writing about mental health, homelessness and gender issues. She is the author of Her Name Was Margaret: Life and Death on the Streets and is the founder of Purses for Margaret, which provides toiletries to homeless women. Home for Margaret is her first picture book. She lives in Burlington, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
BÉRENGÈRE DELAPORTE worked as an illustrator in a communication agency in Savoy, France, after formally studying art in Strasbourg, and now works in children’s publishing. She is the illustrator of Because I Already Loved You, written by Andrée-Anne Cyr. She also illustrates comics for children and adults. She lives in Besançon, France. |
| Written By |
|
DENISE DAVY is a nationally recognized award-winning journalist who specializes in writing about mental health, homelessness and gender issues. She is the author of Her Name Was Margaret: Life and Death on the Streets and is the founder of Purses for Margaret, which provides toiletries to homeless women. Home for Margaret is her first picture book. She lives in Burlington, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
|
BÉRENGÈRE DELAPORTE worked as an illustrator in a communication agency in Savoy, France, after formally studying art in Strasbourg, and now works in children’s publishing. She is the illustrator of Because I Already Loved You, written by Andrée-Anne Cyr. She also illustrates comics for children and adults. She lives in Besançon, France. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Key Text Features | writing inspiration; author’s note; illustrations |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 |