Homegrown

November 15, 2023
A Black child ponders the meaning of home through the lens of family and culture. Our unnamed protagonist tells us that Mama often says the child is "homegrown." As Mama twists the child's hair, she begins to explain what "home" means--it means family traditions (such as game nights and dance parties) and sleepovers with cousins piled in the living room with snacks. Granny says that home is taking care of what you love--whether it's cleaning on Saturday mornings or tending to the garden where you grow the veggies for the family dinners that Granny, Mama, and the child make together. More examples of home include caring for your hair and preparing for the future. Ultimately, home is the memories you create and pass along; it's the place where you feel cared for, protected, and uplifted. The warm, collagelike, digitally rendered illustrations spotlight the memories of a loving extended Black family. The beautifully textured spreads and simple, fluid prose complement one another, setting an easy pace. The text, narrated in first person by the protagonist, is general enough that many readers will effortlessly see themselves in this fictional family, leading them to contemplate the meaning of home. This one will make a wonderful intergenerational read-aloud. A joyous celebration of family. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2024

K-Gr 3-A sweet, meditative story of a young Black girl and her intergenerational household, and the love and care that goes into making a "home." In first person, an unnamed narrator introduces readers to her family and their myriad definitions of such a big, broad word. Home, and this book, impart both happiness and life lessons. Home is game nights and sleepovers with loved ones, but it's also caring for family spaces through cleaning and gardening. It is safety, and passing down wisdom. Home is where love happens, as a verb and a personal embodiment: "I look at myself in the mirror, smiling at my fresh twists, and I see home." Wiley's stunning, trademark digital collage artwork keeps the eye roving over bold prints and dynamic family fun. Sparse text is on the smaller side and ranges one or two sentences per page, giving Wiley space to capture the kaleidoscope brightness of joyful Black girlhood (bobby pins and rollers on a bathroom counter; smiling family photos filling the walls; Grandma's delicious pancake breakfast after Saturday chores). The text size could prove challenging for fledgling readers, but this would make an excellent story time or partner read, and could be used in elementary units about homes, family, and identity. VERDICT Vibrant and hopeful, Wiley's author-illustrator debut about a young Black girl and her loving community belongs in every collection. -Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.