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Home Is a Heartbeat
CCBC Review:
A child finds comfort and safety in her “special place” in a bustling home. In the narrator’s multigenerational, multifamily Latine household, it can get crowded and uncomfortable. That’s why Abuelo has his workshop, where he keeps his tools; and Abuela has the kitchen, where her beloved radio plays next to her herb garden. María and Treicy, the girl’s cousins, prefer to play in the bedroom they share with their mom. Tía Imelda has the living room, where she watches telenovelas, and Mami’s special place is an armchair by the window, where she loves to read. Built by the girl’s bisabuela, the family home is decorated with photos of ancestors, many of whom once lived there as well. When the narrator climbs into the bed she shares with her mami, she feels as though she can hear “the house’s heartbeat,” the particular combination of sounds made by her family—both those living now, and “all the people who have lived and loved in this house.” She snuggles up with Mami, hearing Mami’s heartbeat. “That’s my special place.” This cozy, warm narrative celebrates the love and memories contained in a physical space. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Magdalena Mora
CCBC Age Recommendation: 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Families
Memory
Sharing
Diversity subject:
Latine
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780759556850
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Kemp