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'You Can Love Them:' A Child's Response to Homelessness

By Trevor Barton
Homeless person asking for help, Kim Reinick / Shutterstock.com
Homeless person asking for help, Kim Reinick / Shutterstock.com
Jul 16, 2012
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My students had questions about the central character in the story Fly Away Home written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ronald Himler. And even as 2nd graders, they knew something about the problem.

"Homelessness is mean," said James. 

"I pass the Salvation Army on my bus on the way to school every day. I know homeless people sleep there," Billy added.

Fly Away Home tells the story of a boy who lives in an airport with his dad because they have lost their home. They move through the terminals to avoid being noticed by passengers. The story places you in the boy’s shoes and helps you see the world through his eyes. You feel the pain of the dad who can no longer provide a home for his family. You experience what it’s like to have all of your possessions in two blue bags. This is just the right book to help students and teachers think about how we view people who are homeless.

After reading the story to my students, I asked a few questions about homelessness.

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Homeless person asking for help, Kim Reinick / Shutterstock.com
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