Children's Book Review: Home Tweet Home by Courtney Dicmas

Hardcover, 32 pages

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

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Pippi and Burt are tired of sharing their crowded nest with eight noisy little siblings, so off they fly to see the big, wide world and find a new home. But when they encounter all sorts of big, scary, hungry creatures, Pippi and Burt realize their crowded old nest is the best home of all. Here is an ideal story for anyone who appreciates the riotous joys (and challenges) of a large, rowdy family. It’s a funny and warm tribute to both the thrill of adventure and the love of home.

     Absolutely tweet-a-licious and chirp-chirp-chirpingly adorable, Home Tweet Home is a necessary addition to every little birdie's bookshelves. 

     Here we meet a family of cheerful cave swallows. There are ten brothers and sisters, and the oldest siblings - Pippi and Burt - seem to think that maybe it's time to find a new home for their family, because their little nest can hardly fit them all anymore, let alone accommodate their various eclectic interests (like Maude's judo lessons or Cecil's band practice). And it would be nice to catch a break from Rupert's stinky feet! 

      And so Pippi and Burt, seeing how BIG the world is, fly away into the night sky in search of a new place to call home. But finding new home isn't as easy as it seems. The places they find are either too hard (on top of a turtle's shell), too fast and bouncy (on top of a running cheetah), or too pointy (on too of a big, green alligator). And, in the end, no place feels as cozy and warm as their tiny little nest where they can squeeze in with their parents and all their siblings and keep each other warm and feeling safe. After all, there is no place like home! 

     This is, in my opinion, Courtney Dicmas' most fabulous book by far. It's cute and engaging, bright and filled with eye-pleasing pastel colors, and while it's fun to read, it also contains a great message about what really matters in life and that sometimes smaller and cozier is better than big and spacey. Especially when it comes to close-knit family units. It might not always be comfortable, and we can sometimes be annoyed by our family members, but in the end, love, mutual support, physical and emotional closeness are more important than anything else. 

     All the birds in this picture book are fantastic - they're funny-looking, adorably colored and you just have to appreciate the expressive faces they make as they encounter different animals on their quest to find a new home. They're clever and curious about the BIG world, but after exploring for a while they come to realize that, sure, the world is so BIG and interesting and filled with different animals, things and places, but there is no place like their own home and they are happy to be back in their parents loving embrace. I found it very touching and sweet - such a beautiful book with such a lovely message!