Parked by Danielle Svetcov

It doesn’t seem right to be living in a van in a city this rich, this dazzling. 

I don’t think Mom imagined how badly this could go for us. I think she only pictured good. 

I can imagine how bad, though. 

I read Oliver Twist in fourth grade. I can imagine a lot.

“Why are you living in a van?” Cal asks. How long has he waited to ask that hot potato? ... “Did you hear my question?” “Yes.” But it’s my question. I ask it in my sleeping bag every night, staring at a rusted ceiling. I ask it every morning when I wake up, stiff on a deflated pad. 

I ask it when I’m trudging to the public bathroom with the overflowing garbage cans 

and the sinks that only run ice water.

The setting for this story is San Francisco - and yes even if you haven't been there you will get a feel for the city with its harbour views and very hilly streets. Readers aged 10+ will also gain a good insight into the lives of people with extreme housing insecurity. 

The lives of Cal and Jeanne Ann are set to collide. 

Jeanne Ann's mother moves her daughter across the country to California. When they get there Joyce cannot find a job and the promised housing is no longer available. Mother and daughter are forced to live in their van which they nickname Carrot. Meanwhile Cal lives across the road in a huge house which has a wall of windows to face the glorious views. Cal's mother manages a restaurant, but she no longer cooks there. They serve vegetarian food. Jeanne Ann's mother is a cook and her specialty is eggs and she most certainly is not a vegetarian. Joyce mother also collects cookery books. But she is a loud and opinionated lady and it seems no one will hire her. Surely there is a way to link Cal's mum with Jeanne Ann's mum so we can all enjoy the happy ending but NO things in life are never that simple. 

Cal is an artist but he is in trouble because he created a huge art piece on the wall of his 'posh' school. His mother decides his punishments will be working in her restaurant and limited access to his art materials but this does not stop Cal from continuing to draw and also from caring about the van dwellers who live across the street from his house. Cal also has to change to the public middle school.

Jeanne Ann sure is stubborn and she won't accept help from anyone especially Cal. Cal on the other hand is so kind and he is a problem solver, and he has some emotional intelligence. He knows Jeanne Ann needs space and she has her pride, but he absolutely does not give up on her. Jeanne Ann is desperate to start middle school but she has no fixed address and so cannot be enrolled. 

There is a little thread in this book based on the overdue book notice from Chicago where Jeanne Ann used to live. She has a huge list of overdue books and then Jeanne Ann 'pawns' a heap of book at a local shop to raise money for basics like food. I worried about this firstly because with each letter from the library the fines grow bigger and bigger and secondly because it seemed the book would never be returned - but there is a fantastic resolution to all of this which will make all library users smile. Also, her list of overdue books could give you some terrific titles to explore yourself. I also love the librarian Mrs Jablonsky. Mrs. Jablonsky treated new library card registrations like magical events. She’d have released balloons from the ceiling for every single one if the library had had a budget for it.

 

Here are some text quotes:

The store there has been vacant since somebody invented the Internet in 1990-something, Mom says, but no one ever took down the posters that are taped to the inside of the glass, facing out. There’s one of the Eiffel Tower and one of the Taj Mahal. And one of the Golden Gate Bridge. They’re all faded like everything else on this block, but Mom likes to tap the glass over the Golden Gate Bridge poster like she’s got a plan. Which she does. I know she does. She just hasn’t shared it with me yet.

We’re at the front of a line of vans that look a lot like ours—drained of blood. I thought they were abandoned, but last night I caught sight of an arm popped out of a window two vans back; it dumped something wet and steamy onto the sidewalk. Not a good sign.

Mom calls someone who scratches at the same worry, over and over, a “grinder.” I am definitely grinding. But Labor Day is when school starts in Chicago. It’s gotta start around the same time here. And I’m pretty sure I can’t go without an address. I know I can’t check out a library book without one.

I settle my eyes on the homes across the street. To them, looking down, we’re just a shadowy crease, like in the fold of my book. Everything that matters is off to the sides of us—the water and bridge out my window, the mansions and hills out Mom’s. We’re in the no-place place.

The absence of a credit card is like the absence of a thumb, Mom says. You can’t grip things tightly. We lived in a crummy apartment in Chicago because of the absence of a credit card. We live in this van because of the absence of a credit card. We can’t pay this new parking ticket. Missing a thumb is something you notice quick.

Parked has 400 pages but I read the whole book in one day on a long train journey - and yes, it is THAT good! I always enjoy books with different voice and Danielle Svetcov makes this easy to identify with alternating chapters and a different font for each of these kids. 

Kirkus, however, think this book is too long and there are too many neat coincidences, but it did hold my attention right to the end. I did have one reservation myself (hence the 4 stars) - I was not sure why Cal drew all his images of people with wings and I wanted to know a little more about his absent dad and his distant mum. I did enjoy the minor characters - the crazy kid who keeps escaping from his daycare/summer activities program and the generous and kind man in the van next door. 

Ms Yingling also has a few reservations about Parked:

The juxtaposition of Cal and Jeanne Ann's lives was particularly interesting since they lived on the same street. The details of why the family ends up living in a van, and how they manage various activities is important in helping young readers understand how others may face difficulties they may not. Cal's presence makes the neighborhood initiative to remove the vans more interesting, and the fact that Jeanne Ann loves reading will immediately endear this to librarians and language arts teachers. The San Francisco setting and the different restaurants adds to the appeal of this.

Publisher blurb: Jeanne Ann is smart, stubborn, living in an orange van, and determined to find a permanent address before the start of seventh grade. Cal is awkward, sensitive, living in a humongous house across the street, and determined to save her. Jeanne Ann wants Cal's help just about as much as she wants to live in a van. As the two form a tentative friendship that grows deeper over alternating chapters, they're buoyed by a cast of complex, oddball characters, who let them down, lift them up, and leave you cheering. Debut novelist Danielle Svetcov shines a light on a big problem without a ready answer, pulling it off with the perfect balance of humor, heartbreak, and hope.

When I am travelling I like to read books on an e-reader so my next few blog posts I will share the books I read over the last couple of weeks.

Parked was published in 2020 but a paperback from 2021 is currently available here in Australia.

Nearly there - 4000 blog posts

Approaching 4000 Blog Posts

A few years ago I set a target of 4000 blog posts by the end of 2024 - sadly I did not quite reach that but now as we come to the end of 2025, I only need to pen a dozen more posts to reach my goal! My blog has 2.75 million views (2008-2025). How amazing.

I am also sitting at number 3 on the Feedspot Australian children's book bloggers list just behind CBCA and Kids' Book Review. I have moved up from number 8! earlier this year. And I am number 79 on their international list. Very strangely I am also sitting as number 2 on the Feedspot Retired Teachers blog list even though that is not the focus of my blog. 

Here's a screen shot of my most popular posts from 2008 onwards - it is a rather curious list I think.

Big Enough by Regina Linke

Grandfather sends young Ah-Fu to collect their ox from the field but he warns the boy:

"Just don't try to ride him ... you're not big enough to hold on yet."

As Ah-Fu walks along others add to this advice. The swallows warn him not to lead the ox by the horns; and the frog says don't herd the ox from behind. Three pieces of advice. It is a lot to remember but then Ah-Fu meets the ox and as they journey home it seems each piece of advice will need to be disregarded. Perhaps Ah-Fu is actually old enough for this important responsibility after all. 

Here is an interview with the author about her book and in this 9 minute video you can see Regina talking about Big Enough. Here is the web page for this book. 

I spied this book in one of our city bookstore a few month ago and then I attended an event in the store and the price of admission could be used for book purchases. This seems like such a great way to organise an event - people pay to attend so you can be sure they will come and the reward is a book or two.

If you buy Big Enough published in 2025 (AUS$30) for your school library you will want to work out how to share the image under the dust jacket. And also stop and consider the way the end papers move from early in the day to late at night. 

Author blurb: Little Ah-Fu has a big imagination, but he can’t imagine being the Oxherd Boy . . . yet. When the day comes for Ah-Fu to bring the huge family ox home from the woods, he worries that he’s not big enough to do the job.Will fear and self-doubt drive Ah-Fu home empty-handed? Or can he rely on his wits and compassion to become the Oxherd Boy his family expects—and prove to himself that he is, indeed, big enough? Delightfully paired with exquisite illustrations, this empowering story inspired by traditional Chinese philosophy shows kids big and small how to trust themselves and embrace what they can be.

The illustrations, painted digitally using traditional Chinese techniques, are by turns realistic and minimalist, then fantastical and lush, capturing an agrarian countryside filtered through the unbridled imagination of youth. This tale of quiet persistence, enhanced by the ox’s impressively expressive eyebrows, will strike a chord with young readers looking for their own burst of courage. A gentle adventure for big dreamers in small bodies. Kirkus

Big Enough is a debut picture book with a character taken from her previous book:

The Oxherd Boy (a book for adults) has 160 pages and was published in 2024. Here is the publisher blurb: In this exquisitely illustrated parable grounded in the three pillars of Chinese philosophy, a young boy, his family ox, and a rabbit living in his garden help each other navigate the daily work of love, compassion, and community. Examining the world through the lenses of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, their conversations convey tender, uplifting messages for life's various crossroads. As they adopt a sparrow, bathe in rivers, comfort their neighbors, and tend to their chores, the characters’ different perspectives are reflected in their conversations: the boy’s Taoist love of nature and all it entails, the ox’s Buddhist compassion for others, and the rabbit’s Confucian practice of mutual respect and care. While they don't always agree, the friends settle on the basic truth that purpose comes from simply engaging with life—and with each other. Painted in a contemporary gongbi style, one of the oldest continuous art forms in the world, the atmospheric illustrations from Taiwanese American artist Regina Linke conjure a timeless, mystical land where the friends have made their home. The potent combination of magnificent art and gentle revelations will capture the hearts of readers, whatever their age.

Bear to the rescue by Romane Cristescu and Nic Gill illustrated by Sylvia Morris

During Australia's 2019-2020 wildfire season, Bear used his skills to sniff out over 100 live koalas stuck in scorched areas and in need of rescue. Because of Bear, these koalas were able to get the medical care they desperately needed to recover from burns, malnourishment, and dehydration.

One of the most special things about Australia that sets us apart from other countries is our unique wildlife such as the platypus; kangaroo; wombat and of course the koala. I had Canadian visitor years ago and all she wanted to do on our long, long drive from Sydney in NSW to Port Stephens in Queensland was to see a koala - alas this did not happen. In fact, I have lived here all my life, and I have never seen one in the wild but in the 1950s they were seen in the playground of my former school - how amazing. While we do have some fantastic animals here, we also have the devastation of bushfires and since koalas live in trees, bushfires are one of the worst things that can happen to their habitat. I had no idea, though, that dogs were used to find stranded koalas so that wildlife workers could rescue and save them.

It is a little cheeky that the name of the dog in this true story is 'Bear' because the koala is not a bear. Luckily this crazy puppy finds his purpose and after some special training he quickly learns to identify the smell of a koala.

"Now I wasn't looking for koalas to study them. I had to find them to save them! This wasn't like working in the forests at home. The air dried my nose and stung my eyes. I wore special boots to protect my paws."

You could share this book with your youngest students who I know love to read and hear true stories about animal heroes. Here is an extensive Pinterest of picture books with true animal stories including many that feature dogs. This could be an interesting mini topic to explore with your library group or class. Here is a link to the teachers notes. Read more about Bear here. The Bottom Shelf blog also has more information about Bear and a short video you could use in your library. 

As I mentioned this book is based on the work of a real dog named Bear - he is an Australia Koolie. Bear worked during the 2019-2020 megafires. He has received two awards - Animal Welfare Animal Action Award (2021) and Puppy Tales Australia Dog of the Year Awards medal (2025).

Unlike most dogs trained to detect koala scats, Bear’s exceptional skills allow him to find live koalas resting high in trees. Over the years, Bear has saved over 100 koalas, playing a vital role in search and rescue missions during bushfires, vehicle strikes, and disease outbreaks. 

His work has been pivotal in efforts like Black Summer, where every koala he saved made a tangible difference to endangered populations.

"We think Bear really deserved this award because he's been such a good boy in helping us find and rescue a lot of koalas, especially during the bushfires, but he works throughout the year to help us in our job to make a better and safer place for koalas. We'll give Bear extra pats and extra play for his award," Bear's handler, Dr. Romane Cristescu of the University of the Sunshine Coast, said in a statement.

Thanks to CSIRO Publishing for sending me a review copy of Bear to the Rescue.

Dr Romane Cristescu trained as a vet before studying koala genetics. She is the Director of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation, and the trainer/handler/manager of dogs, including Bear, who specialise in finding animals and their poo.

Nic Gill loves to share stories about nature, humans and other animals. After meeting Romane and her dogs, she was so impressed that she became a conservation dog handler herself and now works with her detection dogs in the Tasmanian wilds.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator and science enthusiast. She loves illustrating picture books because it combines two of her favourite activities: reading and problem solving.

Old Blue is my Home by Lita Judge

Everyone deserves to see themselves represented in books and for other readers 
to experience a bit of someone else's life and build empathy through books.

Little Readers

My friend commented the other day that one very serious consequence of less reading by and to, our young children is the loss of empathy. In my former school of over 900 children I do know of one family where the boys spent their weekends with dad sleeping in a boathouse but I think I can say none of the children in that school were actually homeless and living in a car or van - that's why a book like this is important. Other children need to see kids living in very different circumstances. And this is not about  the happy van or caravan trip around Australia such as in We Live in a Bus (CBCA 2025 shortlist) or Dirt by Sea (CBCA Honour 2023) but the harsh reality of living every day in a van with your parents, siblings and pets and of trying to fit in at school and keep clean and have a little space of your own. 

Expertly capturing a child’s perspective, Judge’s matter-of-fact text is tinged with deep emotion—this is both a paean to a temporary home and a wish for more. Her sumptuous illustrations glow with warmth, inviting readers to linger. Kirkus Star review

Publisher blurb: An old blue van may not look like much, but it holds everything this family needs—shelter, a place to sleep, and each other. They can cook outdoors and sleep under the stars, but sometimes living in Old Blue makes our narrator feel like she’s from everywhere and nowhere all at once. When those feelings start to take over, Mama reminds her of the love inside Old Blue’s walls. Inspired by her childhood experience with economic and housing insecurity, acclaimed creator Lita Judge tells the gentle and ultimately hopeful story of a family who hopes for a forever home—but until that day comes, Old Blue will look after them. (Read more plot details here)

Here is an interview with the author.

Some kids point and laugh at Old Blue. And because they don't understand, they point and laugh at me. The invite each other to their houses to play. No-one wants to play in Old Blue.

Old Blue is my home

Try to find this book to read after Old Blue is my Home:

A place to stay

And I have added this book to my 'to read list' because it has similar themes:

I really like the idea of wide reading. Here are some companion novels for older primary students to extend their thinking about Old Blue is my Home with similar themes of housing insecurity:

Paper Things

Hold Fast

Just under the clouds

The family under the bridge

How to Steal a Dog

Shelter

The Kites are Flying! by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Laura Carlin

I do not claim to have any expertise about the awful situation between Israel and Palestine - events which we witness daily in our media - but I am glad I found this little book which is set near the wall and explores this conflict from the point of view of a child. This book links with the ethos of IBBY and the vision of Jella Lepman and her message of peace. 

Book seller blurb: A television reporter's extraordinary experience in the West Bank reveals how children's hopes and dreams for peace and unity can fly higher than any wall built to divide communities and religions. Travelling to the West Bank to witness how life is for Palestinians and Jews living in the shadow of a dividing wall, journalist Max strikes up a friendship with an enigmatic Palestinian boy, Said. Together the two sit under an ancient olive tree while Said makes another of his kites. As Max is welcomed as a guest, he learns of the terrible events in the family's past and begins to understand why Said no longer speaks. Told from both Max's and Said's points of view, Morpurgo has created a beautiful tale of tragedy and hope with an ending that rings with joy.

This book was published in 2009. Someone purchased it. Then perhaps it sat on their shelves for over ten years. In 2024 it was donated to a charity and put out at their book sale. No one bought The Kites are Flying!. A couple of weeks ago in October 2025 I went to another charity book sale and found this book for just $3. My copy is in mint condition and has a dust jacket. This book is still available.

Here are some teachers notes from Amnesty International.

Morpurgo wrote this book in response to a series of events: a Jordanian teenager asking him to present the Palestinian side of the conflict; a kite-flying memorial to its victims on Hampstead Heath; a news story about a child being killed while flying a kite. Books for Keeps

Morpurgo's books are all underpinned by big philosophical ideas. They speak of compassion and generosity of spirit, of hope and reconciliation, and they are never less than honest. They don't duck uncomfortable truths. Most of all, they have never struck me as fearful. What they don't do, however, is allocate blame. It's quite difficult to write about the Middle East in a way that is suitable for primary school children. Current conflicts may end in different ways and truths are hidden behind propaganda from all sides. But anyone can recognise suffering and children, in my experience, genuinely want to be able to identify with the lives of their peers in other cultures and situations, no matter how distressing these lives may be. So, a book by Morpurgo, with its compassionate perspective, is always going to find the right mark. Book Bag

Other books you could look at include A Child's Garden: A Story of Hope by Michael Foreman for the very youngest readers, and A Girl Made of Dust by Nathalie Abi-Ezzi for middle readers.

Companion book:

I have now read five titles with this appealing format (small square shape and with colour illustrations by outstanding illustrators) from Walker Books but I have not been able to find a series name:

This morning I met a whale

I Believe in Unicorns

A Swallow in Winter

Captain Rosalie

How to Spot a Mermaid by Jane Yolen illustrated by Sally Deng

"Pack a package of Goldfish crackers and a bottle of water.

The water is for you.

Mermaids have quite enough water for their own needs.

The crackers are to share."

Mermaids are a popular topic with younger readers and dare I say mostly girls. Jane Yolen does not specify the gender of this adventurer because the story is told by an off-stage narrator. It is illustrator Sally Deng who has interpreted the book so to my eye the child could be a girl or a boy. You can see inside this book here.

Publisher blurb: Would you like to spot a mermaid? If so, you will need a few supplies and a great deal of patience. As we learn in these informative illustrated pages, mermaids are very shy and do not make friends easily. But if you find a place near the water, sit very still, and are willing to share your Goldfish crackers, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one. And who knows . . . there may even be a mermaid, somewhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of you, too!

You will have fun when you read this book aloud because it contains the word 'fishetarians' which means they eat fish - so "try not to look like a fish." Also, actually most mermaids are vegetarians which means they eat kelp and "kelp looks like brown pasta". There is a mermaid hiding on nearly every page - readers will see this but the boy or girl keeps looking the wrong way. 

I was pleased to find this book in a public library a couple of weeks ago. It was only published in April 2025 which means this library does add new books and not only Australian titles and it might also mean someone is keeping an eye out for popular topics like mermaids. And of course, all libraries need books by master storyteller Jane Yolen author of over 400 books. 

Deng’s lovely pictures depict diverse mermaids in flowing, sea-green swaths, swimming, diving, and even waving to a potential (human) friend. A sweet addition to mermaid lore. Kirkus

In a few weeks I will be talking again about Sally Deng. She is the illustrator of a brilliant new book by Katherine Paterson about Jella Lepman the founder of IBBY.