A story about making new friends and missing home, wherever home may be.
Mónica and Hannah are school kids in the big city. Together, they have formed the Homesick Club, since they are both from far away. Mónica misses the family of hummingbirds that she and her grandmother would feed in her backyard in Bolivia every day. Hannah misses the sunshine and the tiny tortoise that lived near her house in Israel.
When a new teacher, Miss Shelby, arrives from Texas, the girls discover that she misses her home, too, especially the huge sky full of stars and a Southern treat known as Hummingbird Cake. The girls ask Miss Shelby to join their club, then Mónica decides she will bring a surprise for show and tell — a surprise that brings Miss Shelby close to tears.
Author Libby Martinez addresses a theme that many children can relate to — feeling homesick — especially when home is far away. Rebecca Gibbon’s charming illustrations bring an imaginative, light touch to the story.
Key Text Features
recipes
diagrams
Flags
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
A story about making new friends and missing home, wherever home may be.
Mónica and Hannah are school kids in the big city. Together, they have formed the Homesick Club, since they are both from far away. Mónica misses the family of hummingbirds that she and her grandmother would feed in her backyard in Bolivia every day. Hannah misses the sunshine and the tiny tortoise that lived near her house in Israel.
When a new teacher, Miss Shelby, arrives from Texas, the girls discover that she misses her home, too, especially the huge sky full of stars and a Southern treat known as Hummingbird Cake. The girls ask Miss Shelby to join their club, then Mónica decides she will bring a surprise for show and tell — a surprise that brings Miss Shelby close to tears.
Author Libby Martinez addresses a theme that many children can relate to — feeling homesick — especially when home is far away. Rebecca Gibbon’s charming illustrations bring an imaginative, light touch to the story.
Key Text Features
recipes
diagrams
Flags
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Apr 1, 2020 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 8.5 in x 10 in |
| Keywords | cross-cultural friendship; diversity; multiculturalism; longing; homesickness; tolerance; empathy; caring; compassion; inclusive; figurative language; imagery; onomatopoeia; simile; child as narrator; bilingual elements; visualizing; imagining; connecting; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Integration of Knowledge and Ideas; grade 1; grade 2; grade 3; grade 4; picture book; recipes; diagrams; flags; school story; |
| Written By | Libby Martinez writes children’s books and poetry. She is also a lawyer and consultant. Libby lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. www.libbymartinez.com. |
| Illustrated by |
REBECCA GIBBON grew up in South Wales, where her love of picture books inspired her dream of being an artist. She has an MA in illustration from the Royal College of Art, and works in editorial illustration as well as children’s publishing. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Great Spruce by John Duval and Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book among other honors. Rebecca lives with her family in a small town in Herefordshire, England. |
| Written By |
| Libby Martinez writes children’s books and poetry. She is also a lawyer and consultant. Libby lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. www.libbymartinez.com. |
| Illustrated by |
|
REBECCA GIBBON grew up in South Wales, where her love of picture books inspired her dream of being an artist. She has an MA in illustration from the Royal College of Art, and works in editorial illustration as well as children’s publishing. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Great Spruce by John Duval and Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book among other honors. Rebecca lives with her family in a small town in Herefordshire, England. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 7 / grades P to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level M
Guided Reading M |
| Key Text Features | recipes; diagrams; flags |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9 |
Commended, CCBC Choice, 2021
Commended, Mighty Village Spring Book Picks, 2020
“Gibbon’s brightly colored illustrations look fresh and vivid. A supportive picture book for immigrants and an empathetic read-aloud choice for classroom discussion.” —Booklist
“This emotionally resonant and playfully illustrated picture book reveals the many ways our personal stories of home can unite and enrich a community. … Any child who has experienced the bitter sweet journey of moving far from home will find a heartwarming sense of belonging, as they discover how they have been and always will be, a part of the Homesick Club.” —Mighty Village
Praise for author Libby Martinez and illustrator Rebecca Gibbon for The Homesick Club:
Commended CCBC Choice, 2021
Mighty Village Spring Book Pick, 2020
“Gibbon’s brightly colored illustrations look fresh and vivid. A supportive picture book for immigrants and an empathetic read-aloud choice for classroom discussion.” — Booklist
“This emotionally resonant and playfully illustrated picture book reveals the many ways our personal stories of home can unite and enrich a community. … Any child who has experienced the bitter sweet journey of moving far from home will find a heartwarming sense of belonging, as they discover how they have been and always will be, a part of the Homesick Club.” — Mighty Village
“With accompanying detailed and joyful art, the story tackles the challenging emotions of immigration with an encouraging, upbeat message, relaying the value of cherishing one’s own culture, while understanding and appreciating the cultures of others.” — Association of Jewish Libraries
“This sweet book, with compassionate, tender text by Libby Martinez, and appealing, naive illustrations by Rebecca Gibbon teaches empathy and concern in a quiet, non-preachy way. … This book is a no-brainer to add to your classroom or at-home library.” — Mr. Alex’s Bookshelf Blog
“[The Homesick Club] explores what it feels like to be a transplant from somewhere else … and how sharing those feelings with someone else can be healing for everyone.” — Waking Brain Cells Blog
“This heartwarming book speaks to the feelings of being from somewhere else. The tone for the telling is always full of feeling and being helpful to one another. It shows readers that no matter where we come from, we have many similarities.” — Sal’s Fiction Addiction Blog
“The Homesick Club reminds us that though we may look different and come from different parts of the world, we have many experiences connecting us.” — Good Reads with Ronna Blog
Praise for authors Pat Mora and Libby Martinez, and illustrator Amelia Lau Carling, for Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!:
“Based on a Mexican American folktale, this entertaining cat-and-mouse story features Little Chico . . . who saves the day by using his ‘bilingual’ talent.” — Booklist
“This is a story that reflects the experiences of children across the world growing up speaking a number of different languages, and the authors create a little character with whom readers can relate.” — CM Magazine
“This story is a celebration of diversity that invites audience participation and has great potential as a readers’ theater piece for the younger set. Recommended.” — Library Media Connections
Praise for author John Duvall and illustrator Rebecca Gibbon for The Great Spruce:
Gibbon’s loose art is just right, making the winter world look teeming, twinkling and homey.” — New York Times Book Review
“Gibbon’s (The Bee Who Spoke) images of a countryside speckled with cottages and snowy cityscapes recall the work of Ludwig Bemelmans, amplifying the sweetly nostalgic mood of newcomer Duvall’s story.” — Publishers Weekly
“Gibbon’s cozy acrylic-ink and colored-pencil art accentuates the tree’s grandeur in both its idyllic country home and its big-city home-away.” —
Horn Book
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