Natural history, poetry, and art converge in this beautiful, intriguing volume. Poems in the voice of each subject feature animals giving brief tours of their unique homes, from the “Stony Villa” of the common octopus, a “pretty chamber lined with stones,” to a comet moth’s “Silky Apartment” made from a single “strong, silvery thread,” to the elf owl’s “Cactus Cabin,” a “spiny colossus” for the world’s smallest owl. Descriptions of these and 24 other animal homes are set against deep-hued, lushly detailed digital illustrations showing each animal in its habitat. Information about animal behavior is incorporated into the poems, with more information about each creature, along with a glossary, at volume’s end.

ALSC Notable Children's Books List - Middle Readers (2025)

A 2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book

"Unites STEM learning with literary excellence . . . an essential purchase." — School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

 "[A] beautiful work of natural history." — The Wall Street Journal

"Astounding, unusual, and breathtaking dwellings."— Shelf Awareness (STARRED REVIEW)

"Stunning . . . An exceptional exploration." — Booklist (STARRED REVIEW)

A spectacular tour through the dwellings of twenty-seven different animals, from a hermit crab’s secondhand shell to a beaver’s lakeside dam to a comet moth’s silk cocoon.

Acclaimed creator Isabelle Simler presents a poetic journey through amazing animal homes across the world. In Europe, alpine marmots stay safe in underground refuges. In southeast Asia, Sumatran orangutans doze off in treetop bedrooms. In Mexico and the southwestern US, elf owls nest in holes in saguaro cacti. On every continent but Antarctica, honeybees mold wax into palaces for their queens. No matter where you travel, some creature is making an extraordinary place to call home. 

With connections to life cycles, camouflage, and other biological concepts, Home is a spellbinding showcase of the wonders of the natural world. Enchanting poetry, fascinating back matter, and intricately detailed art invite young readers to be amazed by the creativity and diversity of our animal neighbors.

Cooperative Children's Book Center CCBC Choices List - Poetry (2025)