Caldecott Honor Book "Coming On Home Soon" by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, Jacqueline. Coming On Home Soon. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

"Coming On Home Soon" was a Caldecott Honor book for 2005. The storybook is historical fiction based in WWII. Woodson writes through the perspective of a young African American girl named Ada Ruth. The girl's mother decides to travel to Chicago for work opportunities. While her mother is cleaning railroad cars in Chicago, Ada Ruth stays with her grandmother. Each day they eagerly wait for letters from Chicago. During her mother's absence from home, Ada Ruth develops a bond with a stray kitten. At the end of the story, Ada Ruth's mother writes home that she will be returning soon.

I loved the detailed illustrations by E.B. Lewis. I looked back through the book several times just to admire the illustrations. Lewis did a wonderful job depicting snowy landscapes and facial expressions that captured the emotions of each character. I also loved the sensory details from the story, like when the author describes how Ada Ruth recalls her mother's many scents. It is described "like sugar some days and some days like sun. Some days like the lye soap that turned her hands yellow but got the wash clean."

There were two things that I disliked about the book. First, I thought the story needed a location for the setting. I automatically assumed that it was in the south, due to the fact that Ada Ruth's mother was traveling north to Chicago. However, I think a historical fiction book such as this, needs to have a confirmed setting. I really wish the author would have named the state where they story was occurring, at least. Secondly, I disliked the fact that the author didn't use quotation marks. Instead, quotations were simply italicized. This could have been done for younger readers in order to emphasize the words being spoken. However, I still think that proper placement of quotations marks should have been used in coordination with the italicized wording.

A childhood memory of spending time with my grandmother on snowy days, influenced my reaction to this story. I could relate to the bond that Ada Ruth had with her grandmother and the love that they shared. I could also recognize that the grandmother was a hard worker, just as mine was. Her grandmother is depicted as carrying fire wood and even hunting animals.

This story reminds me of "Back Home" by Gloria Jean Pinkney. Both involve African American characters, have detailed illustrations that capture your attention, told through the perspective of young girls, and based in a similar time period. I have never read any other books written by Jacqueline Woodson.

After reading "Coming On Home Soon," I learned that recent books can be set in historic times and still have a storyline that appeals to the young readers of today. This story depicted life during WWII and was able to show readers how hard times were for some families. Ada Ruth's family had few belongings and little food. Readers are also able to recognize that Ada Ruth's mother took the initiative to go look for work in order to provide for her family. It is important that children understand how parents sacrifice and sometimes have to be away from their children in order to provide. This absence doesn't mean that the parents love their children any less.