Old Blue Is My Home: A Picture Book

by Lita Judge

Overview

This poignant yet reassuring picture book follows a family and the van that provides them with safety, warmth, and togetherness amidst economic and housing insecurity

Multiple starred reviews! "A family who lives in their van has everything they need in an important and seldom discussed topic done extremely well. A must-have." (School Library Journal starred review)

An old blue van may not look like much, but it holds everything this family needs—shelter, a place to sleep, and each other. They can cook outdoors and sleep under the stars, but sometimes living in Old Blue makes our narrator feel like she’s from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

When those feelings start to take over, Mama reminds her of the love inside Old Blue’s walls.

Inspired by her childhood experience with economic and housing insecurity, acclaimed creator Lita Judge tells the gentle and ultimately hopeful story of a family who hopes for a forever home—but until that day comes, Old Blue will look after them.

Back matter includes a personal author’s note and more information for kids about housing insecurity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887071848
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/08/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	70 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends, The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire.
Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Expertly capturing a child’s perspective, Judge’s matter-of-fact text is tinged with deep emotion—this is both a paean to a temporary home and a wish for more. Her sumptuous illustrations glow with warmth, inviting readers to linger...A compelling, immersive, and wholly empathetic musing on home."
—Kirkus Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Depicting warm and hazy details, nature, love, and joy, Judge’s watercolor and colored pencil illustrations pair perfectly with the spare text while capturing the feel of life in and out of the van...A family who lives in their van has everything they need in an important and seldom discussed topic done extremely well. A must-have"—School Library Journal

"The girl’s tender narration works well with Judge’s dreamy illustrations to create a small, cozy world, nestling the reader in the van with the family, and the characters’ love for each other is centered through both illustrated glances and affirming words. Soft watercolors and colored pencil in shades of blue pair with melodic text to make this story perfect for a quiet one-on-one read with a child who is willing to be a little patient and do some gentle exploration."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"[B]eautifully illustrated...with a concise, original text and lovely watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations, this picture book offers an enlightening read-aloud experience and could lead to some rewarding discussions."—Booklist

"Making it easy to feel what the child feels, this nuanced work honors the hope of one day having a “forever home” alongside the way Old Blue “gives us shelter and keeps us safe”—and knits the family close."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

"[B]eautifully illustrated...with a concise, original text and lovely watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations, this picture book offers an enlightening read-aloud experience and could lead to some rewarding discussions."

Booklist

"Making it easy to feel what the child feels, this nuanced work honors the hope of one day having a “forever home” alongside the way Old Blue “gives us shelter and keeps us safe”—and knits the family close."

Publishers Weekly

"The girl’s tender narration works well with Judge’s dreamy illustrations to create a small, cozy world, nestling the reader in the van with the family, and the characters’ love for each other is centered through both illustrated glances and affirming words. Soft watercolors and colored pencil in shades of blue pair with melodic text to make this story perfect for a quiet one-on-one read with a child who is willing to be a little patient and do some gentle exploration."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Depicting warm and hazy details, nature, love, and joy, Judge’s watercolor and colored pencil illustrations pair perfectly with the spare text while capturing the feel of life in and out of the van...A family who lives in their van has everything they need in an important and seldom discussed topic done extremely well. A must-have"

School Library Journal

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Expertly capturing a child’s perspective, Judge’s matter-of-fact text is tinged with deep emotion—this is both a paean to a temporary home and a wish for more. Her sumptuous illustrations glow with warmth, inviting readers to linger...A compelling, immersive, and wholly empathetic musing on home."

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2025-02-01
A blue van is home for a young child.

Old Blue is both a cozy living space and an opportunity for adventure, keeping the family safe as they roam the country from town to the mountains and beyond. Scenes of the family playing cards in the back of the vehicle while it rains outside and eating soup around a cozy campfire are depicted in soft, impressionistic watercolors, dominated by blues, golds, and oranges. It’s clear that the young protagonist, who narrates, feels sheltered here. Yet the child also longs for a “forever home,” especially when ostracized by classmates for this unusual living situation. The youngster finds comfort snuggling with Mama and exploring nature. Leaning into imaginative play, the child truly feels peaceful. An especially moving spread depicts the child cross-legged on the roof of the parked van, hair blown back by the wind, arms outstretched: “I’m never lonely when I imagine I belong to the wind.” Expertly capturing a child’s perspective, Judge’s matter-of-fact text is tinged with deep emotion—this is both a paean to a temporary home and a wish for more. Her sumptuous illustrations glow with warmth, inviting readers to linger. In the backmatter, Judge explains that the story stems from her own childhood experiences and provides information on housing insecurity, which will help adults explain the concept to children. Characters are light-skinned.

A compelling, immersive, and wholly empathetic musing on home.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews