#blogbookaday: Vincent Comes Home
Summary: “Spouses Jessixa Bagley (Boats for Papa) and Aaron Bagley (Rocking Fatherhood) collaborate on a story set on a container ship that sails the world’s oceans. “I can’t wait to get home,” says the first mate. “Whenever I go home, I never want to leave,” adds the cook. “Where is this Home place?” wonders Vincent, the freighter’s cat. Vincent soon understands, when the ship docks and he follows the sailors to their houses, watching as their loved ones greet them. “Home is where the people who love you are,” Vincent realizes. Maybe he doesn’t have a home, he worries—until the freighter’s concerned captain finds him and brings him to back to the ship (cleverly named the Domus). The Bagleys’ pen-and-watercolor spreads offer all kinds of visual information: views of Vincent’s changing emotions, portraits of the crew members, and sweeping vistas of coastal scenery. Families and homes don’t all look alike, the Bagleys conclude, but they are equally valuable. A bonus: setting this domestically focused tale aboard a ship draws transport-loving readers into conversations about the inner lives of the people who make them go. ” (Taken from Publisher’s Weekly)
Review: This cute little story of a cat who travels the world on a cargo ship has seen beautiful places, but has never left the ship. One day he hears the crew talk about a magical place called home and decides then and there that he must find it. Soon he realizes that home is not a port, but people you love. I really enjoyed the watercolor scenes showing life at sea – it’s a perfect medium to use when illustrating the sky and ocean. And those large swatches of color are equally paired with intricate drawings of souvenirs, the cargo ship and the town the sailors call home.
Personal Reaction: A wonderful story that shows that home is not a geographical location, but a place filled with love. I also liked that this book would work well for kids who have family members who travel a lot for work and may not be home every night for dinner and bedtime. Plus, I’m not sure I’ve ever read a picture book about a cargo ship, which is pretty cool!
Title: Vincent Comes Home
Author: Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley
Illustrator: Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: February 13, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!