Old blue is my home

Drawing, per an author's note, on childhood experiences, Judge (Wake Up, Moon!) narrates this picture book via the voice of a child whose family lives in a van called Old Blue. Loosely stroked watercolor and colored pencil spreads show Old Blue chugging uphill in a town, then threading along a mountain road. At night, the pale-skinned family eats soup under the stars, then sleeps snuggled up in the van's back, belongings hanging in nets above. "Old Blue is my home," but there are times when the arrangement "makes me feel like I'm from everywhere and belong nowhere." At school, children sometimes point and laugh at the vehicle and narrator, and though schoolmates invite each other over, "No one wants to play in Old Blue." A sensitive parent offers cuddles until the world again feels that it has "a place for me too." Making it easy to feel what the child feels, this nuanced work honors the hope of one day having a "forever home" alongside the way Old Blue "gives us shelter and keeps us safe"--and knits the family close. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A note about housing insecurity concludes. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)

A blue van is home for a young child. Old Blue is both a cozy living space and an opportunity for adventure, keeping the family safe as they roam the country from town to the mountains and beyond. Scenes of the family playing cards in the back of the vehicle while it rains outside and eating soup around a cozy campfire are depicted in soft, impressionistic watercolors, dominated by blues, golds, and oranges. It's clear that the young protagonist, who narrates, feels sheltered here. Yet the child also longs for a "forever home," especially when ostracized by classmates for this unusual living situation. The youngster finds comfort snuggling with Mama and exploring nature. Leaning into imaginative play, the child truly feels peaceful. An especially moving spread depicts the child cross-legged on the roof of the parked van, hair blown back by the wind, arms outstretched: "I'm never lonely when I imagine I belong to the wind." Expertly capturing a child's perspective, Judge's matter-of-fact text is tinged with deep emotion--this is both a paean to a temporary home and a wish for more. Her sumptuous illustrations glow with warmth, inviting readers to linger. In the backmatter, Judge explains that the story stems from her own childhood experiences and provides information on housing insecurity, which will help adults explain the concept to children. Characters are light-skinned. A compelling, immersive, and wholly empathetic musing on home.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.