A Shelter in Our Car [Hardcover]

Monica Gunning (Author), Elaine Pedlar (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

When her father died, Zettie and her mother left their warm and comfortable home in Jamaica for an uncertain future in the United Sates. Zettie's mother can't find a steady job so they are forced to live in their car. But her mother's unwavering love, support, and gutsy determination give Zettie the confidence that, together, she and her mother can meet all challenges. Monica Gunning's moving and authentic story about homelessness in an American city and Elaine Pedlar's strong and lively illustrations bring this moving story to life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-After her father died, eight-year-old Zettie and her mother left Jamaica in search of education and a better life in America. They now live in an old car. Zettie's daily routine includes waking up to blaring sirens and flashing lights, washing in cold water in a park rest room, being bullied by boys at school, and feeling hungry and resentful. Spending time with a friend who is also homeless, and a reassuring encounter with a concerned policeman bring comfort at crucial moments, but the girl's life is not an easy one. Not since Maurice Sendak's We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy (HarperCollins, 1993) has a picture book dealing with homelessness maintained such emotional intensity. The illustrations call to mind images by Georges Rouault. Pedlar's figures are defined with thick black lines; exaggerated features and the expressionistic use of color accentuate the family's suffering. In the end, Mama's successful day helping at a Health Fair and the promise of a job lead to a bed and shower in a motel-and hope. Children will be moved by Zettie's plight and relieved that there are options.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. The kids at school call her Junk Car Zettie. After Papa died in Jamaica, Zettie and Mama came to America, where they now live in the city in the backseat of their car, while Mama tries to go to school and also earn money to pay rent for a room. This picture-book brings close the harsh realities of being homeless, scavenging for food, washing in the park rest room, being harassed by police. The illustrations are in an intensely emotional modernist style with exaggerated facial expressions and body language. The strong, black-outlined figures are scary at times, but then so is the nightmarish reality of being without shelter. At the end of the book, Gunning asks kids to get involved in helping the homeless, and many children will want to talk about the idea with adults close to them. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press (January 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892391898
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391899
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very sensitive treatment of a difficult subject, September 20, 2004

By 

T. Kenny (Sacramento) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Shelter in Our Car (Hardcover)

I heard the author of this book read the story at a Children's Book event and I was really stunned by it. I realized that my almost 5 year old son had no idea that there are people who don't have homes, and I felt rather chagrined about that fact. This story of a girl and her mother who are living in their car as the mother tries to find work and save enough money to rent an apartment was so beautifully done I had tears in my eyes for hours afterwards, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I think it is incredibly important for parents to make our children aware that there are lots of problems in our communities that deserve our attention and that we need to be aware of how others are faring, and not focus solely on the welfare of our families alone. This book does not pull any punches, but it is very tender and focused on the primacy of love between a parent and a child. The illustrations convey the emotional intensity of the story in a unique and eye-catching way. I think this book is a great starting point for any parent who wants help in trying to develop a compassionate child who is aware of the shortcomings and strengths of his or her community.