This simple, touching picture book shows readers a women’s shelter through the eyes of a young girl, who with her mother’s help, uses her imagination to overcome her anxiety and adjust. Includes factual endnotes detailing various reasons people experience homelessness and the resources available to help. AGES: 5 to 9 AUTHOR: Erin Gunti grew up in the small town of Lula, Georgia, USA. After working as a child abuse and neglect investigator, she wrote A Place to Stay: A Shelter Story to open a dialogue between adults and children about childhood homelessness. She hopes the book will serve as a call to activism to support those in need. A Place to Stay is her first project with Barefoot Books. Award-winning illustrator Esteli Meza holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and has exhibited her work internationally. She illustrates books for children as well as culture magazines in Mexico. This is her first project for Barefoot Books. SELLING POINTS: . Young readers see a shelter through a child’s eyes, showing them what shelters look like, what kinds of services they offer, and what it might be like to stay at one. By deepening their grasp of the impact of homelessness, the story builds empathy and a vocabulary for children to express their thoughts on feelings on the topic. . Author Erin Gunti is a social services professional who has specialised in helping children who experience homelessness. To ensure accuracy, the creative team consulted with homeless and shelter experts, as well as families experiencing homelessness. Educational notes at the end include more facts about homelessness and shelters to reinforce learning. . Reinforces the reality that there are many reasons a family may experience homelessness, while affirming children who share the main character’s perspective. Opens doors for a compassionate conversation with children about the factors that can contribute to homelessness, such as systemic social issues or family and personal challenges. . With her mother’s help, the main character uses her imagination to overcome her unease about the new place in a touching display of the power of creativity to help us grow through adversity.
