The Welcome Home

by Amy June Bates, Amy June Bates (Illustrator)

Overview

“The gorgeous illustrations and lovely storyline make this an instant classic.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

From the creator of The Big Umbrella comes another poetic and lushly illustrated picture book about the joy of companionship and there always being room for one more in this tale about the search for the perfect pet.

Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle are looking for a change. Their life has become too quiet, and little changes like eating waffles only help for a moment. They decide to get a pet—but what kind should they have? First they welcome a snail into their home, then an elephant named Louise, then an aardvark named Sam.

One by one they come, and while the house is definitely no longer quiet, Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle still have room and love for more. Could this waggy, lick-your-face puppy be what makes their family complete?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534492332
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	09/19/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	181 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy June Bates is the author-illustrator of The Big Umbrella and The Welcome Home. She is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller The Leadership Journey by Doris Kearns Goodwin; Sweet Dreams and That’s What I’d Do, both by singer-songwriter Jewel; Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan; Joey: The Story of Joe Biden by Dr. Jill Biden; and many others. She has three children and lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with her husband and her devilishly handsome Labrador, Mr. Mochi.  

Editorial Reviews

"Children will enjoy feeling they know exactly what the Gargleson-Bittles need and will be satisfied when a furry creature the couple names Waffles finally arrives."

Booklist

"Though the joke centers on the couple’s inability to land on the right pet, readers will be just as entertained by the animals’ scene-stealing friendships and activities."

Publishers Weekly

*"The gorgeous illustrations and lovely storyline make this an instant classic."

Kirkus Reviews

* "Highly recommended for picture book collections, this fun-filled rumpus will delight young children and leave everyone in a glow."

School Library Journal

★ 2023-06-21
Their search for something “soft” and “waggy” turns Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle’s house into a menagerie.

The darling couple with love and a home to share “want…something a little bit lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail.” They start with a snail they name Gordon. But Gordon isn’t quite waggy enough, so on they go looking for just the right thing, acquiring an elephant, a whale, an octopus, and a wombat, among many other animals. Finally, they find just the right fluffy, waggy, lick-y sort of creature. Bates’ illustrations are absolute perfection. Each scratch of colored pencil is expertly used, adding shadow, a glowing warmth, and texture. The title page, depicting a framed portrait of the protagonists, each sporting a yellow flower, makes clear from the start that Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle are a quirky, loving, and expressive pair. Everything from their gloom to their joy is believable and apparent. All the creatures they welcome into their home are equally dynamic: the snail curled up in a bassinet, the octopus with its multitasking tentacles, even the disgruntled cat who refuses to fetch. Bates has created two characters whose “the more, the merrier” attitude makes for a deeply loving home where everyone belongs. The gorgeous illustrations and lovely storyline make this an instant classic. Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle is brown-skinned; Mr. Gargleson-Bittle is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A feel-good read deserving of a permanent home on bookshelves. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews