Pistes d'exploration

Talk about homelessness. How do homeless people spend their days? How do you think they feel? Why do you think people are homeless?

Talk about what makes a home. What is important for you?

Compare everyday activities pictured in the book with your reality. Use a graphic organizer to compile your findings.

Research what is being done in your area for homeless people, and consider what you can do as a group to help them. Share your findings with the group.

Talk about homelessness. How do homeless people spend their days? How do you think they feel? Do you see any advantages or disadvantages?

Compare everyday activities pictured in the book with your reality. Use a graphic organizer to compile your findings.

Talk about what is essential in your life.

Research what is being done in your area for homeless people. Consider what you can do as a group to help them.

A House Is a House for Me

Mots-clés

Picture book , airports , birds , fathers and sons , first-person narration , freedom , homelessness , hope , poverty , shelter , symbolism

Commentaire descriptif

This book tackles the sensitive subject of homelessness through the eyes of a young boy. Andrew lives in an airport with his father where they bathe in the restroom sinks, eat in the food court and sleep sitting up so as not to get caught. Although he is warm, safe and comfortable, Andrew still yearns for a home of his own someday. He finds hope in an injured bird, trapped inside the airport, which eventually escapes to freedom and a better life. Realistic watercolour illustrations deftly capture the wide-ranging emotions felt by the boy and his father as they struggle to make the best of their difficult situation. The book challenges the negative stereotypes surrounding homelessness by offering readers endearing and optimistic characters to empathize with – people with the same basic needs as anyone else. A perfect tie-in with a social studies unit on family living, this book will also prompt readers to reflect on daily aspects of their lives that they may take for granted.