““Welcome, for example, is ‘a smiling word, / it wraps its arms around you. / It says, come in! come in! / Let me show you / my world.’ The book does just that, first introducing an array of types of homes (treehouse, loft, townhouse) with a wordspinner poem about each, and then giving each kind of home its own spread, with poems distributed throughout about places (parlor, bedroom) and objects (lamp, clock) found in those homes. Inviting pastel-hued illustrations, done in acrylic paint on wood panels and digitally collaged, are populated with anthropomorphized woodland creatures and thoroughly preschooler-pitched. The bite-sized poems, too, should work well for reading aloud to young listeners, especially those that focus on sounds (loft: ‘a soft word, / it floats in your mouth / like feather-fluff’). Older children may get more out of examining words and understanding the wordspinner format—and perhaps feel at home enough to create their own wordspinners.”—The Horn Book
“This cozy collection of 66 short poems celebrates all things ‘home.’ Latham’s poems explore the essence of home with a clever poetic form called a Wordspinner that seeks ‘to define a word by spinning together the sound of the word and the function of the word.’ The form, inspired by poet Nikki Grimes, only requires that the first line end with the word word. Wordspinners do not have to rhyme, and none in this book do, but each still evokes a whimsical and fun feeling… These tiny, playful poems are notable for depicting a broad range of dwellings with and cozy artwork. A solid addition to elementary poetry collections.”—School Library Journal
“A series of poems devoted to the concept of home… the vibes are cozy, and the wordplay enticing; children will eagerly pen their own wordspinner verses. Gentle edges, easy shapes, and sherbet colors enliven Hevron’s naive art, featuring a cheery all-animal cast. Verse that will inspire imitation.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Across this evocative dictionary of abodes, Latham’s poetry and Hevron’s creaturely artwork evoke the coziness of different homes and their trappings… The resultant poems consistently succeed at capturing the essence of their subjects: ‘HOUSEBOAT/ a bobbing word,/ it rides the tides,’ or ‘SPOON/ a smooth-scoop word.’…Throughout this aptly sensorial grouping, the creators evoke ‘snuggle-up word’ home as the place ‘where we learn/ to love.’ —Publishers Weekly
“This inviting collection of poems introduces young readers to wordspinners: playful verses that weave together language and observation and, in these selections, celebrate the many places that people call home… the open-ended format naturally sparks conversation about different living spaces and shared experiences. A thoughtful choice for early elementary classrooms, particularly during social studies units exploring homes and communities.”—Booklist
