{"id":339618,"date":"2025-12-11T19:53:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/uncategorized\/old-blue-is-my-home-perfect-picture-book-friday-jilanne-hoffmann\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T19:53:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:53:20","slug":"old-blue-is-my-home-perfect-picture-book-friday-jilanne-hoffmann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/?p=339618","title":{"rendered":"Old Blue is My Home \u2013 Perfect Picture Book Friday \u2013 Jilanne Hoffmann"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Not many picture books take on the topic of housing insecurity, and some that do feel a bit didactic. Lita Judge has found a way to approach this topic in a matter-of-fact, yet gentle way.<\/p>\n<p>Meet Old Blue.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"11412\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/2025\/12\/05\/old-blue-is-my-home-perfect-picture-book-friday\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9-35-36-pm\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png\" data-orig-size=\"534,540\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2025-10-22 at 9.35.36\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png?w=297\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png?w=534\" width=\"534\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png?w=534\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11412\" style=\"width:334px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png 534w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png?w=148 148w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screenshot-2025-10-22-at-9.35.36-pm.png?w=297 297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">*<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps Judge is successful because she\u2019s writing from her own experience, one that left an indelible mark on how she approaches life.<\/p>\n<p>The story opens with a series of shots on the road. A van driving. Nothing out of the ordinary.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d6567d594351ab7c727dad14830ed12d\" style=\"color:#0c7ab9\"><strong>Old Blue doesn\u2019t go as fast as other cars,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-142d57dbc280b0ba7ff7f915fa06515a\" style=\"color:#0c7ab9\"><strong>but together, we go everywhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7f866f08b587015714abbed808feec2e\" style=\"color:#0c7ab9\"><strong>To town, to the mountains,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d3df5745c524028a16b83195b81e64e2\" style=\"color:#0c7ab9\"><strong>to a place where we can sleep under the stars<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1da19a7ee2b2e36ef14d35be8ed9d53e\" style=\"color:#0c7ab9\"><strong>and eat warm soup before going to sleep.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Page turn\u2026..<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"11416\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/2025\/12\/05\/old-blue-is-my-home-perfect-picture-book-friday\/sleeping-in-blue-large\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1280,682\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 15&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1761169168&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.96&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;320&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.017241379310345&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Sleeping in blue Large\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=620\" width=\"1024\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=150 150w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=300 300w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg?w=768 768w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sleeping-in-blue-large.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Text and illustrations \u00a9Lita Judge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-e6483c4f749f57751a999ae6137f80e3\" style=\"color:#0e79b7\"><strong>Old Blue is my home.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>I had to sit for a minute after that page turn so I could absorb the fullness of this short statement that holds <em>everything<\/em>. They\u2019re not on vacation. This isn\u2019t a temporary week-long adventure. This van is her life.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"11418\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/2025\/12\/05\/old-blue-is-my-home-perfect-picture-book-friday\/blue-outside-large\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1280,704\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 15&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1761169184&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.96&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.017241379310345&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Blue outside Large\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=620\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=150 150w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=300 300w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg?w=768 768w, https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-outside-large.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Text and illustrations \u00a9Lita Judge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-4eadd2348576a75b8d534402d29b310f\" style=\"color:#0a77b7\"><strong>Old Blue may look too small to hold everything<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-8e4c7e91db7b9ac7e3ec68bd1b280ef8\" style=\"color:#0a77b7\"><strong>we need. But we have an outdoor kitchen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-329d93d181f7c4b4e609fa71e11edf08\" style=\"color:#0a77b7\"><strong>And there is a shower made from a<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-61ef91edbce8700b383dd0d7f65ff1f9\" style=\"color:#0a77b7\"><strong>bag of water we hang from a tree.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>These are the facts of her life, presented without judgment or drama. The reader is left to absorb these observations and make of them what they will. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve taken showers outside, using a solar shower bag. I\u2019ve even taken unheated showers outside where it\u2019s a race to scrub before you turn blue. But I always knew there would be a \u201creal\u201d warm shower waiting for me at the end of my camping trip. Not so here. It\u2019s sobering to think about having no choice but to cook or \u201cuse the facilities\u201d outside in the rain or the snow.<\/p>\n<p>This child takes her family\u2019s way of life in stride, despite the fact that when she goes to school, some of her classmates make fun of her. And \u201cno one wants to come over to play in Old Blue.\u201d When she\u2019s sad, her mama cuddles with her and tries to help make her sadness less painful. This key element of the story, the family\u2019s obvious love for one another, despite their circumstances, comes through strongly. And while the girl wishes for a forever home, she makes the best of her situation, letting her imagination soar and knowing that Old Blue will always be there to keep her safe.<\/p>\n<p>The story\u2019s language is lyrical, deceptively simple, and profound. A lesser author would have filled the page with explanations and unnecessary observations, a heavy-handedness designed to teach a lesson. I admire Judge\u2019s elegant restraint, because it recognizes that children are perceptive and deserving of respect.<\/p>\n<p>Loose, mostly earth-toned watercolors and colored pencil illustrations, give the book a cozy, loving vibe. And the blues used throughout don\u2019t feel \u201csterile\u201d or \u201ccool,\u201d they feel like the blues of the sky, damselflies, blue jays, cornflowers, and lupine. Nature\u2019s vibrant and reassuring gifts of wonder. <\/p>\n<p>The author\u2019s note explains how Judge lived a nomadic life during her childhood, due to her father\u2019s work, and describes how it shaped her journey to becoming an author-illustrator. This tender and sad story is ultimately uplifting due to the spirit of this child who didn\u2019t let her circumstances diminish her sense of self. She knew that there was a place for her in the world, and found it. This beautiful book is a testament to the resiliency of children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pair this book with <a href=\"https:\/\/jilannehoffmann.com\/2025\/06\/27\/the-couch-in-the-yard-perfect-picture-book-friday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Couch in the Yard<\/a> by Kate Hoefler, illustrated by Dena Seiferling. Compare how these two books address growing up in home situations that aren\u2019t usually presented in picture books. <\/p>\n<p>Think about what you would do if you lived in a van. What would be the most important things you\u2019d keep, and why? What would you name your van? Imagine being the girl in this story. Write a poem that expresses how you feel about Old Blue (or whatever name you choose to call the van).<\/p>\n<p>Practice being kind. If you know or see someone who\u2019s living in a vehicle, please don\u2019t judge them. Food insecurity can often go along with housing insecurity. Start a food drive at your school to support your local food bank. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d20d1cd5e9dab4d6ea704997388c611a\" style=\"color:#0c81c4\"><strong>Title: Old Blue is My Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-599408390756cca618d6a19bff609062\" style=\"color:#0c81c4\"><strong>Author\/Illustrator: Lita Judge<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3bf8dba30ba2f3cc375df07f3795869f\" style=\"color:#0c81c4\"><strong>Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-74a4ff756b4ca486b81722ba459a0726\" style=\"color:#0c81c4\"><strong>Ages: Pre-K through elementary school<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-eae8c338847fd0c52455ad10bf175056\" style=\"color:#0c81c4\"><strong>Themes: housing insecurity, resilience, family<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/susannahill.com\/for-teachers-and-parents\/perfect-picture-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Susanna Hill\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not many picture books take on the topic of housing insecurity, and some that do feel a bit didactic. Lita Judge has found a way to approach this topic in a matter-of-fact, yet gentle way. Meet Old Blue. * Perhaps Judge is successful because she\u2019s writing from her own experience, one that left an indelible [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[105271,11788,96625,136776,141554,117464,163872,163873,163874,121603,96687,96677,135809,102984],"tags":[278,2268,6989,91343,1159,121608,1277,3893],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-339618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-book-review","category-family","category-homeless","category-homelessness","category-housing","category-housing-insecurity","category-living-in-a-vehicle","category-nomadic-life","category-perfect-picture-book-friday","category-picture-book","category-picture-books","category-powerful-words","category-resilience","tag-blue","tag-book","tag-friday","tag-hoffmann","tag-home","tag-jilanne","tag-perfect","tag-picture"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Old Blue is My Home \u2013 Perfect Picture Book Friday \u2013 Jilanne Hoffmann - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/?p=339618\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Old Blue is My Home \u2013 Perfect Picture Book Friday \u2013 Jilanne Hoffmann - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not many picture books take on the topic of housing insecurity, and some that do feel a bit didactic. Lita Judge has found a way to approach this topic in a matter-of-fact, yet gentle way. 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