Back Home

by Gloria Jean Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

Eight-year-old Ernestine returns to visit relatives on the North Carolina farm where she was born

Genres: Picture Books, African American, Historical Fiction, Family, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 1992

Reviews

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernestine grew up in the city, but she was born in Lumberton, North Carolina. This is where her mama grew up and where she considers “back home.” She finally takes a visit to see her aunt, uncle, and cousin and feels right at home. She gets to experience a life that her mother once experienced as a young child; Ernestine even gets to wear some old farm clothes of her mother’s. This book was awesome because it showed a child getting to experience a different side of her culture. This is an experience she clearly values. I would use this book for a read aloud story while talking about culture. Culture can be many things and we do not have to identify with just one. We can have many identities that shape us into who we are.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant book about 8 year old Ernestine’s visit to family “back home” from a northern city. Ernestine was there perhaps a week or so. Her cousin Jack teases her for her ignorance of country ways and she is determined to prove him wrong. Jack makes up for his teasing by using her suggestion for his new kid goat. The climax was being able to visit her grandmother’s grave. Jack holds her hand during the visit to their grandmother’s grave. Do the math and see how old this grandmother was at death. That should make you realize background that isn’t mentioned in the story. Pleasant and sweet. It might be good for multicultural events or for showing the many different places we think of as home.

[Cameron Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does home mean to you? Everyone has that spot where they feel the most comfortable and it is different for every single person. Some people spend their entire lives in the same home while others move countless times, but for a little African American girl this was her reality. Living someplace unknown and unfamiliar can be hard because you can feel out of place and alone. This book shows kids that even though you might not be comfortable doing something and it might make you scared, you can get through it. It might even make you a stronger person in the end.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernestine travels to North Carolina to visit her Uncle June, Aunt Beula and cousin Jack and to see the place she was born. Her first visit to the country, she gets to wear overalls, play in the feed barn, sleep in her mother’s old room and see the house in which she was born.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it makes more sense from the point of view of an adult looking back, so I am not sure if children will relate.

Themes are connections to a place you don't remember, but still know about, and also how cousin relationships can be like sibling relationships, especially for only children.

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet childrens book about going to visit family.

[Irina H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated story about a little girl going home for an extended visit with her relatives in NC.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Gloria Pinkney, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney follows the journey of Ernestine and picks up where The Sunday Outing ends (Another Gloria P. book). Ernestine recognizes her uncle June Avery right away, he brought her flowers and looked just like the photo her mom showed her (At the train station). They are in Lumberton, North Carolina and her uncle lives on a farm. They hopped in his pickup and headed to the farm where Aunt Beula and Cousin Jack were waiting to meet her. Then the story goes on to tell us of all the farm like activities Ernestine did with her cousin, like ride a goat. The story is accompanied by detailed, life like illustrations that are again (a common Jerry P. way of illustrating) in Jerry Pinkney’s watercolor and color pencil style. Ernestine also got the chance to see where she was born which was now an old/ abandoned house (she promises to rebuild someday), her grandmother grave(something she'd never done, yet), and go to church before the book was wrapping up as she is packing up her belongings, getting ready to go home.

[Marte Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back Home is about eight year old Ernestine who visit family in North Carolina, the place where she was born and where her mom grew up. When Ernestine takes her first steps off the train, she feels right at home in the green countryside, working on the family farm, and spending time with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Her cousin Jack teases Ernestine about her "citified" ways of being, but his hand is also there for her when they go visit her grandmother's burial place. Ernestine leaves North Carolina with good memories.

Theme: Family relationship. The story shows that even if you come in disagreement, arguing, or not always are so happy with the choices your family is making, your family are always there for you when you need them and they love you deep inside. Like when Ernestine was teased by her cousin but he showed his good side and held her hand when they were visiting their grandmother's grave.

The book gives a good view of what "home" is. Home may not necessarily be where you currently live. Home may be several places. Home can also be where close relatives are living.

I recommend this book because it gives a sweet story about an African American girl who travels back to her birthplace, and who makes great memories there. The nostalgic, sweet and humorous story, based on Gloria Pinkney's own childhood memories, is a perfect book for intergenerational sharing.

[Sam Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fictional story about a young girl traveling from a big city in the north to a farm town in the south to go visit her aunt and uncle. Tickets for the train are very expensive so she is sent down south by herself without her parents. She is going to the town where she was born and where her grandmother lived. Being from the city she gets to see what its like to live on a farm and help with the chores around the house. Ernestine and her cousin try to spend time together but her cousin Jack always seems to make her upset by doing or saying something. In the end Ernestine wants to come back and visit but hopes that her whole family will be able to come.
I thought this book was a good multicultural story for students to read that they can kind of relate to themselves because everyone visits their relatives. Although it didn’t go into much detail in how Ernestine felt about being in the place where she was born and where her grandmother grew up. It is mainly about her and her cousin’s days together. I would have liked to hear more about her family’s past and how she got to where she is now.

[Olivia Lagore]

Eight year old Ernestine is returning to her families farm to visit her Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin who live there still. Ernestine is excited to ride in the back of the pickup truck, sleep in her mama's old room, and meet her cousin's goats, but when Cousin Jack sees her, he pins her as a "city girl".
A story about returning to your roots and about not judging a person by where they come from, this book has lovely illustrations and the characterization is made rich by dialects used. The contrasting dialects of Ernestine and her relatives provide another subtle divide between city and country, with Ernestine's dialog more proper, but still occasionally colored with hints of the farm speech.
I think this would be a good book to read to a class to analyze for contrast and how the details contribute to the story. Students can also watch for character development as Jack warms up to Ernestine and Ernestine grows to love the country more and more.

[Lindsay Garber]

Back Home by Gloria Jean Pinkey is a storybook involving an african american girl who travels to North Carolina to sleep in the house where her mom grew up, and to visit her birthplace. The story allows the reader to compare and contrast their life with Ernestine's by reflecting back on how they grew up. It shows the reader that every person has their own story, depending on the culture and location they were raised in. I would recommend this book for children ranging from kindergarten to second grade. As a class activity, I can use this book as a cultural awareness lesson and ask each student to write a reflection on their own life (for example, where they are originally from, who raises them, do they have siblings etc.).

[Farnosh Erehvizheh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a girl that travels to North Carolina, where she was born. Now she lives in the city. As soon as she gets there she feels like home, and experience the good nature.

All she wants to do is to be friends with her cousin “Jack” and experience the farm life. She liked spending time with her family and doing the things her family do every day.

Use this 2nd grade; the children can compare city and country life. Do any of the children have family that doesn’t live at the same place they do? Where are they really born, and where are their roots. Talk about friendship and that when you get to spend time with others it will give you memories.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book written by Gloria Jean Pinkney and illustrated by her husband Jerry Pinkney. The story is about Ernestine who lives with her family "up North" but North Carolina is where she was born and raised. The story follows Ernestine as she travels down to visit her aunt and uncle in the countryside. Gloria manages to write this story in a way where there is no negative stereotypes towards the African American culture and the illustrations create amazing visuals to go along with the text. I think any child could relate to this story especially if they have moved around a bit and have been uneasy about starting a new life in an unfamiliar place. Definitely worth a read.

[La'bria Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Ernestine lives with her family up North, "back home" is in North Carolina, the place where she was born and where her mama grew up. Ernestine feels right at home in the countryside, working on the family farm, and spending time with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. This book is somewhat of a picture book and the pictures help enhance the story. There are no negative stereotypes in the story and it captures children's interests, especially if they can relate to ever going somewhere and being unsure about the visit.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like everything the Pinkneys write and illustrate--this is a good story, simple in many ways, yet highlights the geographical differences separating many African American families, as many moved North during the Great Migration, from those who stayed in the South. Above all, though, this is a story about family--getting to know those we don't know or remember, and learning new traditions and stories about previous generations.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a young girl who finally gets to leave her hometown in Philadelphia to meet her relatives in North Carolina that she has only heard about. This story would be a good way to maybe introduce a family unit and allow children to share their experiences in meeting new family relatives. This is also the sequel to The Sunday Outing.

[Kelsi Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to the book "The Sunday Outing" that is about how Ernestine's trip to visit her family. She is from the city so seeing what the country life is all about is very interesting and fun to her. She becomes good friends with her cousin Jack that is about her same age.

[Cws]

JE-Pin

[Yarrow]

Another good one from Ms. Pinkney. I wish these books had been around when I was a girl.

[Prw41894 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun book in the way that Ernestine was able to relive her mother's childhood fun. It was a different sort of touch by reading about the southern traditions and experiences.

[Deb Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about a young girls visit to where she was born.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of growing up.

[Ashley Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new place, a family that she hasn't seen in forever, and a cousin that just won't seem to be nice to her. This is a great story for students to try and imagine what they would feel like if they were in the character's shoes.

[Jenna Winter]

Back Home follows the journey of Ernestine and picks up where The Sunday Outing ends. Ernestine recognizes her uncle June Avery right away, he brought her flowers and looked just like the photo her mom showed her. They are in Lumberton, North Carolina and her uncle lives on a farm. They hop in his pickup and headed to the farm where Aunt Beula and Cousin Jack were waiting to meet her. Then the story goes on to tell us all the farm like activities Ernestine did with her cousin, like ride a goat, the story is accompanied by detailed, life like illustrations that are again in Jerry Pinkney’s watercolor style. Ernestine also got the chance to see where she was born, an old house, her grandmother grave, and go to church before the book is wrapping up as she is packing up her belongings, getting ready to go home. Like The Sunday Outing, this book introduces to the classroom a culture filled experience and express the role that family plays in Ernestine's life.