Old Blue Is My Home: A Picture Book

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Abrams Books for Young Readers • New York

Old Blue doesn’t go as fast as other cars, but together, we go everywhere.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

To town,

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

to the mountains,

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

to a place where we can sit under the stars and eat warm soup before going to sleep.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Old Blue is my home.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Old Blue may look too small to hold everything we need. But we have an outdoor kitchen.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

And there is a shower made from a bag of water we hang from a tree.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

I have my own hammock-closet above our bed . . .

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

and a cozy library to read my favorite books.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

There is a place to store extra water, an axe, and tools. And we have wood to keep us warm.

Unless it’s raining. Then our bedroom becomes the family room, where we wait for the ping, ping, thump of drops on the metal roof to stop.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Old Blue is my home.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

But sometimes living in Old Blue makes me feel like I’m from everywhere and belong nowhere.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Especially when I go to school.

Some kids point and laugh at Old Blue. And because they don’t understand, they point and laugh at me too.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

They invite each other to their homes to play.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

No one wants to play in Old Blue.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Then these walls feel cold inside, and so do I.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

When that kind of sadness takes over, Mama and I have alone time until Old Blue’s walls feel warm again and filled with love . . .

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

and I believe that the world has a place for me too.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

That’s when I can soak in the warmth of the sun and feel at peace.

Sometimes Old Blue and I play the flying game together. I’m never lonely when I imagine I belong to the wind.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Wherever my family and I go, Old Blue gives us shelter

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

and keeps us safe.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Old Blue has always looked after us, keeping us together.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Someday we hope to have a forever home.

But until that day . . .

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Old Blue is my home.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This story is inspired by my family’s own experience. We lived a nomadic existence in Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, California, and Wisconsin. Although we had a series of traditional homes, they were always temporary. Frequent moves and my father’s work in remote areas led to housing insecurity. During my early childhood, the dependable home I knew was an old blue van.

This experience gave me a rich relationship with nature that I have carried throughout my life. But it also came at a cost. I grew up with feelings of anxiety and isolation, never truly belonging to a community. As a result, I created my own community with make-believe friends, and I fostered my imagination, where I could escape and seek comfort. Eventually this seeded my desire to build real connections with people through writing and illustrating.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

WHAT IS HOUSING INSECURITY?

Far too many families face housing insecurity today, though it comes in many different forms. For some it means they live in a place that lacks affordable housing and face the threat of eviction if they can’t pay the rent. For others, it can mean having to move frequently. Some endure overcrowding or live in housing that lacks safety, heat, or basic comforts. Housing insecurity can also mean experiencing homelessness, living in shelters, cars, tents, or even outside with no shelter at all. Whatever form housing insecurity takes, challenges like these can expose people to increased stress, and mental and physical health risks. Access to affordable food, education, health care, and community can also be more challenging.

You may have people in your life who are facing these challenges, and you might not even be aware. But you can help families who are experiencing housing insecurity by supporting organizations in your area that work with those in need. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

For Mom and Dad

The illustrations in this book were made with watercolor and colored pencil.

Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4197-7152-1 eISBN 979-8-88707-184-8

Published in 2025 by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in China

Abrams Books for Young Readers are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below.

Abrams® is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook