Locomotion

Jacqueline Woodson's 'Locomotion' is a poignant and accessible novel-in-verse told entirely through the eyes of eleven-year-old Lonnie. After losing his parents in a fire and being separated from his younger sister, Lili, Lonnie finds himself in foster care. The book beautifully captures his jumbled feelings of grief, loneliness, and longing, as well as his burgeoning self-expression through poetry, encouraged by his teacher, Ms. Marcus, and the quiet support of his foster mother, Miss Edna. This book is ideal for children aged 6-9, particularly those who may be experiencing loss, family separation, or navigating new living situations. It offers a gentle yet profound exploration of emotional resilience and the power of finding one's voice, making it an excellent choice for opening conversations about difficult feelings.

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature When Lonnie was seven years old, his parents died in a fire. Now he's eleven, and he still misses them terribly. And he misses his little sister, Lili, who was put into a different foster home because "not a lot of people want boys-not foster boys that ain't babies." But Lonnie hasn't given up. His foster mother, Miss Edna, is growing on him. She's already raised two sons and she seems to know what makes them tick. And his teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper. Told entirely through Lonnie's poetry, we see his heartbreak over his lost family, his thoughtful perspective on the world around him, and most of all his love for Lili and his determination to one day put at least half of their family back together. Jacqueline Woodson's poignant story of love, loss, and hope is lyrically written and enormously accessible.