Hello, friends! Our book today is A Home Again, written by Colleen Rowan Kosinski and illustrated by Valeria Docampo, a gorgeous meditation on love, loss, hope, and family.

A brand new house eagerly awaits its new owners, and once the family of six (including kitty and baby-to-be) arrive, the house relishes the sounds and smells that fill its once-empty rooms. It delights in watching the family grow and in being such an integral part of their memories, of being cared for and loved. The house is more than a house, it is a home… until the family must move away. Hurt and confused, the house pushes away prospective new owners by making itself creak or lose shingles in their presence, resulting in its sitting empty and alone for a long time. At last, a couple arrives and sees the house’s potential. It tries to push them away as it did the others, but the couple is determined, and they slowly bring the house back to good condition with work and care. And against all odds, the house begins to hope once more to be part of a family… to be a home.

Gorgeous and moving. The concept of what makes a house versus what makes a home is explored wonderfully through the emotional, earnest text and stunning artwork, and that alone makes this a book worth reading, especially for families in the midst of their own transition between homes. What makes this book truly remarkable, however, are the themes of loss, grief, trauma, and healing hidden within the house’s story. The hurt of being left behind by its first family is palpable, as is it’s desire to push away others. Yet the repetition and quiet persistence of the second couple (who are also a wonderfully subtle example of LGBTQ+ representation) reflect how healing begins with letting in those who would care for you. It’s an absolutely beautiful parallel and makes for an extraordinarily layered narrative. In addition, the length is great for a quick storytime, and JJ loved it. This one has all the elements of a great picture book, and we can’t recommend it enough. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)