MY HOME IS IN MY BACKPACK

A child’s understanding of home evolves during a Latine migrant family’s journey to safety.

In this translated import from Chile, written by Argentinian author and journalist Perrella, Papá, Mamá, big brother Pedro, Coco the dog, and narrator Clara follow the many others who have already left their unspecified home country. Joining a stream of travelers, the family traverses a rural tropical landscape by foot and rowboat, hiding from guards and sleeping in a tent. Papá reassuringly reminds them that, while they’ve left their house behind, “our home is special: it is made from the people we love and the things that we love doing,” prompting Clara to engage with other children. Drawing pictures of what’s special to them—Sofía’s fireflies, Tomás’ dominoes—heightens Clara’s awareness of “the invisible things they carry in their hearts.” This gentle story, which highlights natural beauty and children’s engagement with their immediate world, is an age-appropriate introduction to complex, traumatic events. Salerno’s delicate graphite pencil illustrations feature a rosy palette that reflects the narrative’s warmth, complementing Polson’s smooth, readable translation. Thoughtful touches add richness and depth, such as outlines of imagined items and notebook sketches that appear superimposed on real objects as well as two-page spreads at the beginning and end that mirror one another, with small differences indicating the passage of time.

Both poignant and buoyant: a touching tribute to love and the endurance of the human spirit.