*2021 FAPA President's Book Awards Silver Medalist *Smithsonian Magazine’s Ten Best Children’s Books of 2020 “Kitty O'Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic”—O, The Oprah Magazine “Kitty O’Meara... is challenging us to grow.”—Deepak Chopra, MD, author, Metahuman “It captured the kind of optimism people need right now.”—Esquire (UK) “A communal beacon of hope.”––Washington Post “An eloquent, heartwarming reflection that will resonate with generations to come.”—Kate Winslet From the popular, globally viral prose poem comes a beautifully produced picture book that encourages us to look within, listen deeply, and connect with ourselves and nature in order to heal. And the People Stayed Home features Kitty O’Meara’s hopeful message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet. In these pages the thoughtful words are richly illustrated, and words and images together communicate an optimism for our shared experience and our future that will resonate with readers of all ages. Gr 2–6—As with the YouTube viral video of The Great Realization that became a book, this is a picture book version of O'Meara's poem from March 2020 originally entitled "In the Time of Pandemic" which was widely viewed on Facebook and beyond. Readers follow a pandemic journey beginning with quarantine: "They listened, and read books, and rested, and made art, and exercised and played games, and learned new ways of being." It continues with how the new ways of being created new ways of thinking and healing for both the people and the earth. "And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal." And lastly to the future where the pandemic's end allows the people to come together grieving their losses, making new choices, and creating new ways to live. Di Cristofaro and Pereda imbue O'Meara's words with visual context, bold color, and a global feel. The people are depicted in a wide variety of skin colors and dress. A variety of layouts, text placement, and scenery gives the poem additional depth. VERDICT A general purchase, this is a perfectly illustrated version of a poem that continues to be relevant; it could be used to launch projects writing poetry and creating art, as well as discussions of the pandemic and climate change.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Lib., Troy, NH “Kitty O’Meara…offers us wisdom that can help during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She is challenging us to grow—to look inside, to listen deeply, to allow ourselves to think differently, and ultimately, to create new ways of living on the planet." -- Deepak Chopra, MD, author, Metahuman “Kitty O'Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic…The poem has become shorthand for a silver-linings perspective during the coronavirus outbreak—the hope that something good can come out of this collective state of ‘together, apart.’ ” ― O, The Oprah Magazine "An eloquent, heartwarming reflection that will resonate with generations to come. In a time when we all need to believe something good can come out of something so devastating, Kitty’s words give us pause and hope…this book offers the reader encouragement for a brighter tomorrow." -- Kate Winslet “ Thank you, Kitty O'Meara, for showing us promise amid the panic, and for pointing out that at this very moment, this very day, we can seize the opportunity to restore wholeness to our world." -- Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of The Good Good Pig and The Soul of an Octopus And the People Stayed Home is an uplifting perspective on the resilience of the human spirit and the healing potential we have to change our world for the better. ― Shelf Awareness “Images of nature healing show the author’s vision of hope for the future…The accessible prose and beautiful images make this a natural selection for young readers, but older ones may appreciate the work’s deeper meaning.” ― Kirkus Reviews “This is a perfectly illustrated version of a poem that continues to be relevant.” ― School Library Journal “A stunning and peaceful offering of introspection and hope…a positive response to the global COVID-19 pandemic…effortlessly captivates…will open minds of all ages…the result is the feeling of an open heart.” ― The Children’s Book Review Ten Best Children’s Books of 2020: "A calming, optimistic read, and a salve for children trying their best to navigate this time." ― Smithsonian Magazine "A communal beacon of hope." ― Washington Post “It captured the kind of optimism people need right now.” ― Esquire (UK) "A unique, timely, and welcome addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections as it perfectly reflects particular and universal aspects of the pandemic experience.” ― Midwest Book Review “A poem by American writer Kitty O’Meara has deservedly gone viral.” ― Edinburgh Evening News “One of the most popular pandemic poems to date was authored by Kitty