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Title details for And the People Stayed Home by Kitty O'Meara - Available

And the People Stayed Home

by Kitty O'Meara
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
"Kitty O'Meara...offers us wisdom that can help during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She is challenging us to grow."—Deepak Chopra, MD, author, Metahuman

"Kitty O'Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic"—O, The Oprah Magazine

"An eloquent, heartwarming reflection that will resonate with generations to come... encouragement for a brighter tomorrow."—Kate Winslet

"And the People Stayed Home is an uplifting perspective on the resilience of the human spirit and the healing potential we have to change our world for the better." ––Shelf Awareness

"Images of nature healing show the author's vision of hope for the future...The accessible prose and beautiful images make this a natural selection for young readers, but older ones may appreciate the work's deeper meaning."— Kirkus Reviews

"This is a perfectly illustrated version of a poem that continues to be relevant."—School Library Journal

"A stunning and peaceful offering of introspection and hope."—The Children's Book Review

Ten Best Children's Books of 2020: "A calming, optimistic read, and a salve for children trying their best to navigate this time." —Smithsonian Magazine

"It captured the kind of optimism people need right now."—Esquire (UK)

"Thank you, Kitty O'Meara...for pointing out that at this very moment, this very day, we can seize the opportunity to restore wholeness to our world."—Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of The Good Good Pig and The Soul of an Octopus

"A poem by American writer Kitty O'Meara has deservedly gone viral."—Edinburgh Evening News

And the People Stayed Home is a beautifully produced picture book featuring Kitty O'Meara's popular, globally viral prose poem about the coronavirus pandemic, which has a hopeful and timeless message.
Kitty O'Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home, has been called the "poet laureate of the pandemic." This illustrated children's book (ages 4-8) will also appeal to readers of all ages.

O'Meara's thoughtful poem about the pandemic, quarantine, and the future suggests there is meaning to be found in our shared experience of the coronavirus and conveys an optimistic message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet. Her words encourage us to look within, listen deeply, and connect with ourselves and the earth in order to heal.

O'Meara, a former teacher and chaplain and a spiritual director, clearly captures important aspects of the pandemic experience. Her words, written in March 2020 and shared on Facebook, immediately resonated nationally and internationally and were widely circulated on social media, covered in mainstream news media, and inspired an outpouring of creativity from musicians, dancers, artists, filmmakers, and more. The many highlights include an original composition by John Corigliano that was premiered by Renée Fleming.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 10, 2020

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781734761801

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      October 16, 2020

      Gr 2-6-As with the YouTube viral video of The Great Realization that became a book, this is a picture book version of O'Meara's poem from March 2020 originally entitled "In the Time of Pandemic" which was widely viewed on Facebook and beyond. Readers follow a pandemic journey beginning with quarantine: "They listened, and read books, and rested, and made art, and exercised and played games, and learned new ways of being." It continues with how the new ways of being created new ways of thinking and healing for both the people and the earth. "And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal." And lastly to the future where the pandemic's end allows the people to come together grieving their losses, making new choices, and creating new ways to live. Di Cristofaro and Pereda imbue O'Meara's words with visual context, bold color, and a global feel. The people are depicted in a wide variety of skin colors and dress. A variety of layouts, text placement, and scenery gives the poem additional depth. VERDICT A general purchase, this is a perfectly illustrated version of a poem that continues to be relevant; it could be used to launch projects writing poetry and creating art, as well as discussions of the pandemic and climate change.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Lib., Troy, NH

      Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      November 1, 2020
      During a period of quarantine, people discover new ways to live--and new lessons about how to care for the planet--in this debut picture book. In this work's poem, O'Meara describes lockdowns experienced by many across the world during the first days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Beginning with the title phrase, the author discusses quiet activities of solitude and togetherness as well as more boisterous ways of interacting. These times of being apart give people a new perspective, and when they reunite, "they grieved their losses, / and made new choices" to restore the planet. The spare verse allows the illustrations by Di Cristofaro and Pereda to take center stage. The colorful, slightly abstract cartoons depict a rainbow of people and pets, many of them living in apartments but some residing in larger, greener spaces. Images of nature healing show the author's vision of hope for the future. While this was written in March and originally published as an online poem, the lack of an explicit mention of the reason behind the lockdowns (and the omission of the experiences of essential workers) could offer readers an opportunity to imagine a planetary healing beyond the pandemic that inspired the piece. The accessible prose and beautiful images make this a natural selection for young readers, but older ones may appreciate the work's deeper meaning. A poem about the pandemic with vivid illustrations and a strong environmental message.

      COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read

subjects

Languages

  • English

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