A Home for Luna
What’s inside...
When Luna washes up on a strange shore, she is scared and lonely. She shelters under a wooden crate and dreams of a home from long ago. She soon discovers there is beauty in her new land. 'A smell filled the air. A smell like home, but not exactly.' Along the way Luna makes unexpected friends. But will she ever feel at home in a place so different from the one she remembers? A heart-warming tale about adapting to another place, displacement, our need for community and friendship, and the life-changing value of kindness. Stef Gemmill’s beautiful prose and Mel Armstrong’s quirky, colorful illustrations combine to turn this book into a classic. Educators and parents will find the story’s characters and themes thought-provoking and filled with content that will generate discussion both in the classroom and at home. 'This is a heart-warming story with a beautiful moral lesson about our shared ‘humanity’, our need for community and the life changing value of kindness.'―rachaelcraw
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Luna felt when she found herself in a new place?
What does the story teach us about friendship and helping others?
Can you think of a time when you made a new friend in an unexpected place?
What would you do if you met someone who was different from you?
How do you think the story would change if Luna never found the penguins?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think deeply about Luna's emotions by asking them to recall a time they felt similar and share their feelings.
Discuss the importance of empathy and kindness by exploring how the penguins helped Luna.
Help your child draw parallels between the story and real life by asking them about times they've made new friends or helped someone in need.
Promote creativity by asking your child to imagine alternative endings or different scenarios within the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: In the story, Luna the cat learns to understand and share the feelings of new friends in a foreign environment.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and care for the emotions of their peers, promoting a supportive and understanding environment.
Example Lesson: Adaptability and resilience
Explanation: Luna adapts to a new home with different creatures, showing resilience in the face of change.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of embracing change and finding ways to thrive, even in unfamiliar situations.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: Luna forms unexpected friendships with sea creatures, highlighting the importance of building connections.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of forming bonds and supporting one another, regardless of their differences.
Example Lesson: Courage and bravery
Explanation: Luna overcomes her fears in her journey to finding a new home, showing bravery.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to face their own fears and challenges with courage, understanding that they are capable of overcoming obstacles.
Example Lesson: Importance of finding a sense of belonging
Explanation: The story revolves around Luna's journey to find where she truly belongs, emphasizing the universal need for a place to call home.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to appreciate the importance of home and community, and to seek their own places of belonging and security.