Homeplace

by Anne Shelby

A grandmother and grandchild trace their family history

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile, Historical Fiction, Family, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1995

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely way to show the flow of history as it relates to one family through the generations lived in their "homeplace" Beginning with a log cabin in the Westward Expansion days to the present-day (well, 1990s) the story (and especially the detailed illustrations) tell the changes in the house itself, the family routine and the types of chores done and furnishings and appliances in the home. It's also a story of family continuity and love for one another and their home.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tale of generations, told by a grandmother to her granddaughter. I love Halperin's illustrations and the heart of this tale.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful historical fiction for kids and beautiful illustrations.

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much like A Time to Keep by Tasha Tutor, but the latter will hold your interest for generations.

[Jennisen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old son decided that this book was special before we even read it. I have a feeling we will be reading it over and over while we have it from the library!

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeplace shares the location of one families life from the great-great-great-great grandparent to the child of today. This book was published in 1995, but it is still applicable today. If you're reading this in a small group or by yourself you can see the little details in the illustrations.

At storytime, I read most the little paragraphs, but I skipped some wording for the young age of the audience. I did sign for each grandparent and all the greats. Listeners joined in which was wonderful.

2022 storytime theme: Ancestor Appreciation Day

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Kelly Shiverdecker]

Published: 1995

This historical fiction book is about an old house that has been in the family for a long time, through four great grandparents and it talks about how they built up the house and how they kept up maintenance and how life happened in the house, as in what they did, such as cleaning, cooking, farming.

[Amanda Walz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this story. It's about generations of the same family. It is very heart warming and the pictures are beautiful.

[Maya Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed it from our library and ended up a copy for my daughter. Beautiful book.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this. There’s so much in the illustrations.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

warm sweet book about the way healthy hardworking people can build a heritage for later generations. Lovely pictures with lots to look at and a cozy feel all around.

[skcocnaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 9 year old says this is a 5 star.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely and special book. Gorgeous pictures and a touching story.

A grandmother tells her granddaughter the story of her house, occupied by one family from when it was built in 1810 by her great-great-great-great grandfather, and how one child in each generation brought up their family in the same house, all the way to the present. (The book was written in 1995.)

This is a really fun read aloud book but it might take a while because there are a great many detailed illustrations. They’re beautiful and so much fun to peruse.

It’s a bit of a history lesson too, as the reader sees how several generations have lived and some of the things they’ve owned.

It sure would be nice to have this kind of family history. As I read this, I felt a little sad that I know so little about my ancestors and have lived in rental apartments all of my life.

[Stanislav242 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a gem, at least for the future generations. In this book, children get to see how their ancestors lived; what hardships and difficulties they had to face, and what people did before technology, automobiles, better knowledge etc. Like, they see how their grand grand grand parents had to scrub clothes on rocks in the river and bake food over a stone stove and regular fire. Many children don’t even know how to grow up without technology, they are already “plugged up” by the age of 5 into their cell phones, which I believe is a huge minus, they miss out on the social skills. The illustrations are somewhat grim and uninviting, but they portray the harsh reality of life. We see a transition of a house from simple to complex. I think this book is for older kids, 4-7.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad to have a chance to buy this book in paperback. I found it at my favorite children's book store. It's The Reading Reptile in Kansas City, and it is the most amazing bookstore this side of You've Got Mail. Better, even. Anyway, this book is a wonderful walk through the years. It is a very visual and lyrical way to help children grasp the concept of generations past and changes through time. Aside from that, it is just a lovely book about family and a place called home.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touches my heart in so many ways. The idea of handing down a house through generations is beautiful. But, the powerful, charming drawings by Wendy Anderson Halperin were so moving I felt the need to call her and ask if I could name my cottage after this gem of a book. She graciously said, yes! I think of her often as I teach my students and share the history of our family with my own kiddos. This is a precious gift, this book.

[T Crockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found that kids don't tend to gravitate to this book, I suspect due to the pastel pictures. But it was recently the perfect book to share with a preschooler who is incredibly curious about "olden times". Each page's pictures provide a wealth of information and storyline. There is text, but it's minimal; the pictures fill the gaps. This makes it great for pre-readers and early readers too.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book for the pictures and because I think it's a great family history book. However I don't think my kids appreciated the history lesson in the illustrations quite as much as I did, although they listened attentively. In truth, I'd probably rate this book a 3 star, but it was bumped up a star simply because of how it relates to family history, which I love.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a home, built long ago, containing generations of memories. Told by a grandmother to her granddaughter, the home is safe, comfortable and loved. The illustrations are lovely, but so filled with detail that the eye has trouble focusing.

Recommended.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to teach children about generations and the roots that they spring from.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and story of how a home evolves through many generations.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a genealogy buff myself, I enjoyed this children's story about an old homeplace that stayed in one family, and some of the technology that changed along the way. Sweet illustrations too.

[Ma]

This is an absolutely gorgeous and stunningly detailed book full of nostalgia and warm feelings. Wendy Anderson Halperin's illustrations make it come alive! Every American family should own a copy!

[Stephanie Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

No plot but nice and soothing story...absolutely lovely drawings!

[Ilana Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book that speaks to the need for home, family, and continuity in us all. And the painstaking illustrations made me want to step right into that world and live there!

[CFAITC]

Grandmother and grandchild trace the 200-year history of a family, its home, and farm.

[Kathryn Ehlert]

Human- Environment Interaction

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these to Alissa on the back porch as she played.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully detailed and complex illustrations form the heart of this simple story about the many generations of a family and how they live on and farm their homestead. Simple and lovely.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dream is to own a home like this one.