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About
The storm was inside the house.
A boy and his mother hide from the rattle of fists on a wall and the thunder of yelling. There is a storm inside their house. It's time to find a stronger home.
Their first new home is by the water. When they find a seashell and press it to their ears, they hear the sound of the waves. The boy's mother tells him that a seashell always carries its home, the sea, inside it, just like they will carry their home inside them-in their heartbeats. They travel from place to place to find stronger and stronger homes, relying on each other for support and finding joy and comfort, even when they're scared. But what about their old house? One day, the boy's mother says it's time to go back. They go home to find their family and friends waiting to welcome them and help make it the strongest house yet. Finally, the boy and his mother won't have to be afraid anymore.
Available in French as Une maison solide.
Key Selling points
• Because of family violence, a boy and his mother leave home to find other safe places to stay, comforting each other along the way, and eventually are able to return to their home and make it the strongest home yet.
• Takes on the difficult topic of family violence in an age-appropriate way, describing the abuser as a "storm...inside our house," and focusing on the relationship between mother and son and the strength they find together.
• Inspired by the author's experience as a survivor of gender-based violence.
• Delphie's artwork is the perfect match for the content, capturing the difficult emotions of the situation but also showing the warmth and strength of the mother-son relationship.
• Author Katrina Chen is an MLA (provincial government representative) for Burnaby-Lougheed and a professional coach who has advocated for childcare, public education, mental health and equity. Co-author Elaine Su is a teacher, librarian and friend of Katrina, with whom she partnered to bring this story to life.
A mother and son experiencing family violence have to flee their home, moving from place to place to find safe shelter, until finally they're able to go back home again and make it the strongest house yet.
Katrina Chen (陳葦蓁) moved to Canada from Taiwan on her own and worked in the grassroots community before being elected as a Burnaby Board of Education trustee and later as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby-Lougheed, becoming the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet. She has openly shared her experiences as a survivor of gender-based violence. Katrina is currently president of 安信 Community Savings Credit Union and a certified coach, advocating for childcare, mental health and equity.
Elaine Su (苏依泠) is a teacher, librarian and storyteller. She loves to create in the rich intersection where culture, nature, community and imagination meet. Born in Shanghai, she now lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family as settlers on the unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking peoples.
Delphie Cté-Lacroix is an illustrator working from Montreal, Quebec. Over the years she has published many books alongside writers she admires.
Her work has received multiple awards, including a prestigious Governor General's Literary Award for best illustrated book. She is known for illustrating texts addressing sensitive subjects or important social issues. She believes it is the artist's responsibility to contribute to the collective narrative and to do so with nuance and complexity. Her style can be recognized by her limited color palette, her use of soft textures and simple compositions. Home is in our hearts
There is a storm inside the house. Fists rattle the walls, and yells crash like thunder. A boy and his mother know it's time to leave and find a stronger home.
They travel from place to place, carrying home in their heartbeats. Together they are more powerful than any sto
A boy and his mother hide from the rattle of fists on a wall and the thunder of yelling. There is a storm inside their house. It's time to find a stronger home.
Their first new home is by the water. When they find a seashell and press it to their ears, they hear the sound of the waves. The boy's mother tells him that a seashell always carries its home, the sea, inside it, just like they will carry their home inside them-in their heartbeats. They travel from place to place to find stronger and stronger homes, relying on each other for support and finding joy and comfort, even when they're scared. But what about their old house? One day, the boy's mother says it's time to go back. They go home to find their family and friends waiting to welcome them and help make it the strongest house yet. Finally, the boy and his mother won't have to be afraid anymore.
Available in French as Une maison solide.
Key Selling points
• Because of family violence, a boy and his mother leave home to find other safe places to stay, comforting each other along the way, and eventually are able to return to their home and make it the strongest home yet.
• Takes on the difficult topic of family violence in an age-appropriate way, describing the abuser as a "storm...inside our house," and focusing on the relationship between mother and son and the strength they find together.
• Inspired by the author's experience as a survivor of gender-based violence.
• Delphie's artwork is the perfect match for the content, capturing the difficult emotions of the situation but also showing the warmth and strength of the mother-son relationship.
• Author Katrina Chen is an MLA (provincial government representative) for Burnaby-Lougheed and a professional coach who has advocated for childcare, public education, mental health and equity. Co-author Elaine Su is a teacher, librarian and friend of Katrina, with whom she partnered to bring this story to life.
A mother and son experiencing family violence have to flee their home, moving from place to place to find safe shelter, until finally they're able to go back home again and make it the strongest house yet.
Katrina Chen (陳葦蓁) moved to Canada from Taiwan on her own and worked in the grassroots community before being elected as a Burnaby Board of Education trustee and later as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby-Lougheed, becoming the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet. She has openly shared her experiences as a survivor of gender-based violence. Katrina is currently president of 安信 Community Savings Credit Union and a certified coach, advocating for childcare, mental health and equity.
Elaine Su (苏依泠) is a teacher, librarian and storyteller. She loves to create in the rich intersection where culture, nature, community and imagination meet. Born in Shanghai, she now lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family as settlers on the unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking peoples.
Delphie Cté-Lacroix is an illustrator working from Montreal, Quebec. Over the years she has published many books alongside writers she admires.
Her work has received multiple awards, including a prestigious Governor General's Literary Award for best illustrated book. She is known for illustrating texts addressing sensitive subjects or important social issues. She believes it is the artist's responsibility to contribute to the collective narrative and to do so with nuance and complexity. Her style can be recognized by her limited color palette, her use of soft textures and simple compositions. Home is in our hearts
There is a storm inside the house. Fists rattle the walls, and yells crash like thunder. A boy and his mother know it's time to leave and find a stronger home.
They travel from place to place, carrying home in their heartbeats. Together they are more powerful than any sto