Back Home

Story time in Lune's house starts with the call of Krik! Krak! Lune loves listening to her daddy's stories, whether they are funny, sad, or carry a lesson about truth and love. He tells of a mango tree climb that goes wrong, of life after a hurricane, of flying over magical mountains, and of the healing power of a mother's love. Every one of them begins with lakay, which means back home, and each carries Lune to Haiti, her father's homeland. She has never been there, yet she can see, hear, and feel it when she closes her eyes.

To Lune, her daddy is her favorite book, and some nights she stays up late just to hear one more story when he gets home from work. Her mommy tells her that everyone has stories, and that leaves Lune wondering whether she might have some of her own.

This picture book is a love letter from author Arlène Elizabeth Casimir to the birthplace of her parents and to the way storytelling connects people. Ken Daley illustrates it in rich, glowing colors. The book closes with a glossary and two author's notes, one for caregivers and teachers and one for children, offering ideas and encouragement for sharing stories.