Home

First week of school, and I couldn’t wait to share Home by Matt de la Peña and Loren Long with my class. This book is something special. The words carry so much weight without feeling heavy, and every page is packed with illustrations that quietly pull you in.

One line that really stayed with me was, “Home is not a house you leave behind but the people who walk beside you.” It made me think about how home can look so different for everyone. It’s not always four walls or a familiar street — sometimes it’s the people who make you feel understood.

Listening to my students talk about what home meant to them was the best part — some spoke about a grandparent’s hug, a favorite corner in their house, or even a pet that made them feel at home.

Home doesn’t give just one answer — and that’s what makes it so powerful. It gives space for everyone’s story.