Yard Sale

When a family has to leave their house and move to a small apartment, it’s hard to let go of things—but having one another is what counts.

Almost everything Callie’s family owns is spread out in their front yard—their furniture, their potted flowers, even Callie’s bike. They can’t stay in this house, so they’re moving to an apartment in the city. The new place is “small but nice,” Mom says, and most of their things won’t fit, so today they are having a yard sale. But it’s kind of hard to watch people buy your stuff, even if you understand why it has to happen. With sensitivity and grace, Eve Bunting and Lauren Castillo portray an event at once familiar and difficult, making clear that a home isn’t about what you have, but whom you hold close.

Commended for Georgia Children's Book Award (Picture Storybook) 2017

“While the topic is an extremely tough one, Bunting tackles it with her usual grace and poise. The clear and concise writing is a wonderful choice for the subject matter. ... A vital purchase for collections everywhere. --School Library Journal (starred review) Callie's first-person observations reveal her distress, while poignant watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce her emotions through deft use of white space, color washes and strong outlines that capture postures and facial expressions. Images of forlorn Callie surrounded by a yard full of possessions, sad Callie hugging Sara, distraught Callie grabbing her bike and Callie's parents comforting her visually tug the heart. A simple, moving tale of a family in transition. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Castillo's ( Nana in the City ) gentle scenes soften the family's sadness.... Bunting captures the way loss can take a family's possessions while leaving their love for each other intact. --Publishers Weekly ...a quietly domestic, visually accessible style that offers a feeling of stability, which helps cushion the sadder implications of the story. It's useful to have a story where moving may be no adventure for anybody in the family, but where things will still be okay. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The story's focus on having to move due to reduced circumstances is a welcome addition to books about contemporary problems. --Booklist Castillo's warm and restrained ink and watercolor illustrations capture the emotions without overwhelming the reader. A lovely and honest story about a hard topic. --Kirkus Reviews This simple yet powerful picture book will resonate with any reader who has experienced loss and engender empathy among students who may be in a position to help those who have. --School library Connection A straightforward, heartfelt story. --Horn Book A quietly wrenching yet ultimately comforting story of a family adjusting to straitened circumstances. --The Wall Street Journal”

While the topic is an extremely tough one, Bunting tackles it with her usual grace and poise. The clear and concise writing is a wonderful choice for the subject matter. ... A vital purchase for collections everywhere.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Callie's first-person observations reveal her distress, while poignant watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce her emotions through deft use of white space, color washes and strong outlines that capture postures and facial expressions. Images of forlorn Callie surrounded by a yard full of possessions, sad Callie hugging Sara, distraught Callie grabbing her bike and Callie's parents comforting her visually tug the heart. A simple, moving tale of a family in transition.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Castillo’s (Nana in the City) gentle scenes soften the family’s sadness.... Bunting captures the way loss can take a family’s possessions while leaving their love for each other intact.
—Publishers Weekly

...a quietly domestic, visually accessible style that offers a feeling of stability, which helps cushion the sadder implications of the story. It’s useful to have a story where moving may be no adventure for anybody in the family, but where things will still be okay.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The story’s focus on having to move due to reduced circumstances is a welcome addition to books about contemporary problems.
—Booklist

Castillo’s warm and restrained ink and watercolor illustrations capture the emotions without overwhelming the reader. A lovely and honest story about a hard topic.
—Kirkus Reviews

This simple yet powerful picture book will resonate with any reader who has experienced loss and engender empathy among students who may be in a position to help those who have.
—School library Connection

A straightforward, heartfelt story.
—Horn Book

A quietly wrenching yet ultimately comforting story of a family adjusting to straitened circumstances.
—The Wall Street Journal

Eve Bunting is the author of many beloved books for children, including Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, which won a Caldecott Medal. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Lauren Castillo has illustrated many books for children, including Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts. She lives in Maryland.

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