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A Place for Us
CCBC Review:
A powerful, wordless narrative illustrated with lush watercolor and colored pencils focuses on a mother and son (both Black) and their daily routine. The mom meets her son after school, they have dinner at a food court, and then they spend the evening at the public library, where the mom reads while her son does his homework. When the library closes, the parent and child walk to a park where they will spend the night on a bench. The mom stays alert, making sure they are safe, while providing a warm and comforting spot for her son to rest his head. In the morning, they get dressed and brush their teeth using a water fountain, and the routine comes full circle when the mom drops her son off at school. The realities of their life are presented as a matter of fact, without objectification or overt messaging but not without emotion. The book succeeds in part because the story is less about the circumstances of the mother and son and more about their relationship, which is clearly one of closeness and care. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
CCBC Age Recommendation: 5-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Homelessness
Mothers
Routines
Wordless Books
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publishers:
Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780593324882
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Ransome