A story about making new friends and missing home, wherever home may be.

Mónica and Hannah are school kids in the big city. Together, they have formed the Homesick Club, since they are both from far away. Mónica misses the family of hummingbirds that she and her grandmother would feed in her backyard in Bolivia every day. Hannah misses the sunshine and the tiny tortoise that lived near her house in Israel.

When a new teacher, Miss Shelby, arrives from Texas, the girls discover that she misses her home, too, especially the huge sky full of stars and a Southern treat known as Hummingbird Cake. The girls ask Miss Shelby to join their club, then Mónica decides she will bring a surprise for show and tell — a surprise that brings Miss Shelby close to tears.

Author Libby Martinez addresses a theme that many children can relate to — feeling homesick — especially when home is far away. Rebecca Gibbon’s charming illustrations bring an imaginative, light touch to the story.

Key Text Features
recipes
diagrams
Flags

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.

Libby Martinez is an award-winning Latina children’s book author and poet. She is the co-author, with Pat Mora, of I Pledge Allegiance, which was recognized as Best Children’s Picture Book by the Texas Institute of Letters and the International Latino Book Awards. Libby is also the co-author of Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection (Spanish edition) and appeared on National Public Radio’s Diverse Summer Reading List for Kids. Libby is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Stanford Law School. She lives in Colorado Springs.

Libby Martinez's profile page

REBECCA GIBBON grew up in South Wales, where her love of picture books inspired her dream of being an artist. She has an MA in illustration from the Royal College of Art, and works in editorial illustration as well as children’s publishing. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Great Spruce by John Duval and Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book among other honors. Rebecca lives with her family in a small town in Herefordshire, England.

Rebecca Gibbon's profile page

• CCBC Choice
• Commended, Mighty Village Spring Book Picks

Gibbon’s brightly colored illustrations look fresh and vivid. A supportive picture book for immigrants and an empathetic read-aloud choice for classroom discussion.

Booklist

This emotionally resonant and playfully illustrated picture book reveals the many ways our personal stories of home can unite and enrich a community. … Any child who has experienced the bitter sweet journey of moving far from home will find a heartwarming sense of belonging, as they discover how they have been and always will be, a part of the Homesick Club.

Mighty Village