A Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book of 2025
Clara and her family are forced to leave everything behind in this poignant but hopeful story of forced migration, told through the eyes of a young refugee.
"We all carry our special homes with us - in our backpacks and pockets, and in our hearts."
Every day Clara and her family walk a long way. Sometimes they talk and joke, sometimes they must hide and keep silent. At night, in their village of tents, Clara visits her new friends to hear about their special homes: the things that light up the darkness for them.
But Clara hopes someday soon their journey will end, and she can put down her backpack and find a safe place for her special home to stay.
Target age: 4 to 7
Reviews:
"Both poignant and buoyant: a touching tribute to love and the endurance of the human spirit." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"A family's forced migration prompts a new way of seeing home in this sensitively rendered tale of change. Arresting." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A superb book that evokes empathy for families facing forced migration, examining the topic in an accessible way for children." --BookPage, Starred Review
"Despite her trying journey, Clara is sweet and soft, and her love of art winds through the book, with her own drawings of the stories of the people she meets intertwining and dancing beautifully with the reality around her." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A fantastic way to show children what migration is or to help children who had to migrate reflect on their journey. This story shows the difficulty of migration while also highlighting the beauty of community and family." --Adrien Carter, YA Books Central
About the Contributors:
Eugenia Perrella is a journalist and children's author from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She specializes in international news and brings her passion for keeping others informed into her writing for children. Eugenia is the author of more than a dozen children's books.
Angela Salerno is a graphic designer and illustrator from Argentina, whose work often highlights social justice issues. Angela has illustrated several children's books. She lives in Valencia, Spain.