Home by Jeannie Baker tells a visually engaging story of a neighborhood’s transformation over time, showing the positive impact of community development and environmental care. Through detailed, collage-style illustrations, young readers see how small actions can improve and beautify shared spaces. The book promotes values of stewardship, teamwork, and appreciation for nature, encouraging children to recognize their role in nurturing their communities.

In our literature-based homeschool curriculum, Home is deeply integrated to enhance educational goals and the learning experience. We incorporate this book to:

• Foster Critical Thinking: By discussing the neighborhood’s visual changes in the book, students analyze how citizens shape their environment, encouraging reflection on community transformation.
• Enhance Writing Skills: Students will create narratives or descriptions based on the book's imagery, craft stories from the perspective of different characters within the community, and describe the chronological changes the neighborhood undergoes.  
• Promote Environmental Awareness: Home sparks discussions on environmental stewardship and urban renewal. Activities include research projects on local community transformations, urban planning, and the importance of green spaces in urban areas. Students are also encouraged to propose their own community improvement projects, applying their insights from the book.
• Cultivate Artistic Expression: Jeannie Baker's collage technique provides inspiration for art projects where students create their own visual representations of community and home.