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A small hole in an abandoned mattress makes a comfortable home for a family of hamsters, but only when they are young and small. Older, bigger hamsters need more space.
Searching for a new house means leaving behind a cozy, familiar world though, and some of the brothers have reservations about facing the unknown (We’ll never make it) and make excuses to stay behind (Our ears will freeze). One brother convinces the others to follow him, though, when he realizes how they can stay safe on their journey.
The hamsters look silly - as they should - crossing the sea (a puddle) and a mountain (a dresser) while hidden in their portable holes (a cup, rubber gloves, and a cardboard tube), but the way they cheer each other on during difficult times is commendable.
After freeing their brother from the mouth of a beast (a dog), they feel brave enough to live in a home that stretches for miles in all directions.
A die-cut hole on the cover of the book gives the reader a glimpse of the ink and watercolor illustrations inside. The hole that appears near the end of the story reveals a photographic view of the hamsters’ new surroundings.
There are too many speech bubbles to make this a fluent read-aloud, but independent readers who enjoy humorous stories will likely enjoy the lively characters in A Place to Call Home.
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A Place to Call Home