Book Giveaway: A HOME AGAIN by Colleen Kosinski

Colleen Kosinski has written a new picture book, A HOME AGAIN, illustrated by Valeria Docampo and published by Two Lions. on November 1st. Colleen has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner living in the United States.

All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Colleen and Valeria.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

After the last brick is laid, a family moves into a brand-new house. As the family grows, the house delights in the sound of laughter echoing in its halls and the pitter-patter of little feet traversing its floors and realizes it is no longer just a house. It has become a home—their home. One day, the family packs up, and with tears in their eyes, they say goodbye. The house doesn’t know if it can ever be happy again until two men appear. It begins to feel a sliver of hope about this new family…perhaps it can become a home once more.

Told from the perspective of a house, this story’s heartfelt text and beautiful illustrations convey a warmth of feeling as two families change and grow at different times within the same four walls.

BOOK JOURNEY:

A few years ago, my husband and I became empty-nesters and we toyed with the idea of downsizing to a smaller home. I mentioned it to our children and was very surprised by their strong reaction. They couldn’t imagine not being able to visit us in their childhood home. So we decided against it and I turned one of their bedrooms into a new studio. But I kept thinking about their reaction.

We had planned a trip to New Orleans where we stayed in the beautiful garden district. We did a lot of walking and looking at the gorgeous, historic homes. I started thinking about the houses and how they felt about all the people and events they’d seen. These thoughts brought me to thoughts of our house and how it would feel if we left it.

On the flight home back to Philadelphia I wrote the first draft of A Home Again. When I got to the part about the new family, I immediately thought of our friends Michael and Walter who had just bought a new home before our trip. I thought it would be nice to have a nontraditional family be the next family in the home. It is not the focus of the story, but I think it sends a subtle message of acceptance.

I was so thrilled to be paired with illustrator, Valeria Docampo. Her artwork is gorgeous and I love her use of light and color. It really captures the mood of this story.

COLLEEN’S BIO:

Colleen writes picture books and middle grade novels. Her picture books include Lilla’s Sunflowers, A Home Again, and Love Made Me More (2022). Her middle grade novel is titled, A Promise Stitched In Time. For the last year she has been working as an editor at Reedsy.com and teaching classes on picture book writing. She is also involved in her local chapter of the SCBWI, and the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature. Colleen is a graduate of Rutgers University, as are her husband and sons. Her daughter followed the bright lights to work in the film industry in LA. Colleen works from her Cherry Hill, NJ studio with her canine assistant, Sage.

www.ColleenRowanKosinski.com

VALERIE’S BIO:

Valeria began to draw driven by the desire to capture the poetry of everyday things:

the children and dogs’ glance, the shape of the plants, the sound of the autumn dry leaves and the aroma of breakfast.

Born in Buenos Aires city, Argentina, her academic background focus initially in Fine Arts and then graduated from the University of Buenos Aires with a degree in Graphic Design & Visual Communication, where she practiced as a teacher.

Since 2006 she has been dedicated to children illustration. She already illustrated for publishers from 5 continents.

In her work she uses both manual and digital techniques and investigates the use of new methods and materials in a constant pursuit of new expressive forms.

One of her books “La Grande Fabrique de Mots” has been translated into 30 languages.

She currently lives in Lyon (France) from where she learns to look at all things again, through the eyes of her little daughter.

Valeria Docampo’s passion for illustration finds its source in everyday life:

the children, the eyes of a dog, the shape of the trees, the sound of the rain in autumn or the aromas of breakfast.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she studied Fine Arts and graduated in Graphic Design & Visual Communication from the University of Buenos Aires, where she taught.

Since 2006, she has dedicated herself to the illustration of children’s books, always in search of new graphic techniques.

One of these books “La Grande Fabrique de Mots” has been translated into 30 languages.

She currently lives in Lyon (France) where she learns to look at everything as if it was the first time, through the eyes of her little girl.

Colleen, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I loved reading the genesis of the book. It sounds like a heart warming story. If only houses could talk. Valeria’s illustrations are lovely. I have always enjoyed her illustrations. Click here to she her Illustrator Saturday feature. Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy