A Place for Us

by James Ransome, James Ransome (Illustrator)

Overview

A poignant wordless picture book about a homeless boy and his mom, by Children's Literature Legacy Award winner James Ransome

When a little boy's mom picks him up from school, his day seems a lot like any other kid's. He and his mom go out for some fast food and then head to the library. But when they stay there till closing time, and then go to the park, we learn more. Through the lens of Ransome’s evocative illustrations we see that they ate out because they don't have a kitchen to cook in. They went to the library because they don't have a quiet space to do homework. And at night, they settle in to sleep on a bench in a city park because they don't have a home. The next morning, they are awakened by the rising sun, Mom’s bag is full of clean clothes, and there’s a fountain for washing up--and finally they are ready for the walk to school. His classmates may or may not know about his living situation, but what shines throughout the story is the deep love he and his mom have for each other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593324899
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/05/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

James Ransome, recipient of the 2023 Children's Literature Legacy Award, is the illustrator of many award-winning picture books, including Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge (by Gary Golio), The Creation (by James Weldon Johnson), which won a Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, and Let My People Go (by Patricia McKissack), winner of an NAACP Image Award. His other books include This Is the Rope (by Jacqueline Woodson), Young Pele (by Lesa Cline-Ransome), and Sky Boys (by Deborah Hopkinson). He lives in upstate New York with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome, and their family.

Editorial Reviews

* “A wordless tale that speaks loudly of American inequality. . . . Ransome’s gorgeous, richly hued watercolors convey the love between mother and child, balancing the difficulties they face with moments of true joy. In an author’s note, he asks, ‘In a country of vast resources, what is our responsibility to those without access to the basic necessities?’ Readers of this empathetic tale will come away resolved to work toward a world in which all people’s needs are met. Thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and moving.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “In spectacularly composed signature-style spreads, Ransome crafts a wordless story that centers an unhoused child and caretaker. . . . Richly detailed, carefully lighted images guide readers through this duo’s evening and morning in visuals that brim, throughout scenes of the two in crowds and alone, with abiding love and care.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Strikes a delicate balance between the celebratory presentation of a loving relationship between mother and son and the more somber commentary on how unhoused children can easily remain unnoticed. The lack of text keeps the focus solely on the boy and his mom, and their love for each other is crystal clear, as the two lean toward each other in almost every scene, him in a gentle adoration and her in a soft protectiveness. The watercolor-and-pencil art stretches across full spreads, immersing the reader in the dynamic energy of the city during the day before vibrant, warm tones shift to cooler, darker hues as the sun sets, bringing an unsettling anxiety that is reflected in the mother’s face. Still, the book is careful not to other the child and shows their story more as one of familial support than one of tragedy. . . . A realistic but compassionate look at homelessness.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

★ 2025-05-03
A wordless tale that speaks loudly of American inequality.

At the end of the school day, a mother picks up her son from school. Parent and child, both of whom present Black, hug before stopping for a meal at a fast-food restaurant. At dusk, the pair walk to the local library, where the boy does his homework and the mother reads a novel—notably, it’s Lesa Cline-Ransome’sFinding Langston (2018), the story of another Black child who knows hardship, written by the author’s wife. At closing time, the librarian comes to turn out the lights. After exiting the library, parent and child walk to a park, where they talk, and the youngster plays in the fall leaves. In the dark, the two settle down on a bench with the city lights and skyline as backdrop. While the child sleeps, his head resting in his mother’s lap, she remains vigilant throughout the night. When the sun rises, she gets the boy ready for school, combing his hair and looking on as he brushes his teeth at a water fountain. Ransome’s gorgeous, richly hued watercolors convey the love between mother and child, balancing the difficulties they face with moments of true joy. In an author’s note, he asks, “In a country of vast resources, what is our responsibility to those without access to the basic necessities?” Readers of this empathetic tale will come away resolved to work toward a world in which all people’s needs are met.

Thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and moving.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews