And the People Stayed Home
- Downloads：3761
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-22 18:32:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Kitty O'Meara
- ISBN：1734761784
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
And the People Stayed Home is a beautifully produced picture book featuring Kitty O’Meara’s popular， globally viral prose poem about the coronavirus pandemic， which has a hopeful and timeless message。
Kitty O’Meara， author of And the People Stayed Home， has been called the “poet laureate of the pandemic。” This illustrated children’s book （ages 4-8） will also appeal to readers of all ages。
O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic， quarantine， and the future suggests there is meaning to be found in our shared experience of the coronavirus and conveys an optimistic message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet。 Her words encourage us to look within， listen deeply， and connect with ourselves and the earth in order to heal。
O’Meara， a former teacher and chaplain and a spiritual director， clearly captures important aspects of the pandemic experience。 Her words， written in March 2020 and shared on Facebook， immediately resonated nationally and internationally and were widely circulated on social media， covered in mainstream news media， and inspired an outpouring of creativity from musicians， dancers， artists， filmmakers， and more。 The many highlights include an original composition by John Corigliano that was premiered by Renée Fleming。
Kitty O’Meara， author of And the People Stayed Home， has been called the “poet laureate of the pandemic。” This illustrated children’s book （ages 4-8） will also appeal to readers of all ages。
O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic， quarantine， and the future suggests there is meaning to be found in our shared experience of the coronavirus and conveys an optimistic message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet。 Her words encourage us to look within， listen deeply， and connect with ourselves and the earth in order to heal。
O’Meara， a former teacher and chaplain and a spiritual director， clearly captures important aspects of the pandemic experience。 Her words， written in March 2020 and shared on Facebook， immediately resonated nationally and internationally and were widely circulated on social media， covered in mainstream news media， and inspired an outpouring of creativity from musicians， dancers， artists， filmmakers， and more。 The many highlights include an original composition by John Corigliano that was premiered by Renée Fleming。
Reviews
Ann
，
Beautifully illustrated。 And it would be lovely if lock down had really caused a complete shift in perspective。 But if this is what future generations will see as 2020/2021， I fear it is a false vision of where we have been and where we come out on the other side。
Catherine
，
Didn't hear about this when it originally came out， but did recently & since the 17th was the anniversary of the beginning of our local lockdown I thought I'd read my first covid-inspired book to commemorate the day。 Poor choice。 Neither the poem nor the art work caught me in any way， nor spoke to my experience of the last year Didn't hear about this when it originally came out， but did recently & since the 17th was the anniversary of the beginning of our local lockdown I thought I'd read my first covid-inspired book to commemorate the day。 Poor choice。 Neither the poem nor the art work caught me in any way， nor spoke to my experience of the last year 。。。more
Erin
，
I like the concept of the book but I think I expected something more or different
Kelly
，
Nice story。
Eleanor Jude
，
This was beautiful。
Elizabeth
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 The poem is beautiful but the author is opposed to big corporation and pollution and she would like to heal the planet so maybe don't buy the book。 Maybe find the poem and let the students imagine the pictures。 The poem is beautiful but the author is opposed to big corporation and pollution and she would like to heal the planet so maybe don't buy the book。 Maybe find the poem and let the students imagine the pictures。 。。。more
Megan Wagner
，
Releasing our pet fish into a stream is not a good decision， it's a very bad one。 And the people didn't stay home， they had to work still， or they outright refused to stay home。 And then over 500，000 people died。 Releasing our pet fish into a stream is not a good decision， it's a very bad one。 And the people didn't stay home， they had to work still， or they outright refused to stay home。 And then over 500，000 people died。 。。。more
Briley Cantrell
，
I loved this book！ It is talking about current events going on in the world like the Corna Virus。 She is letting us know that we are going to be okay if we are safe and smart。
Zibby Owens
，
O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic， quarantine， and our future posted on Facebook and quickly went viral。 I love that this book has taken that lovely poem and made it for kids。 I think it provides a positive message about our own healing and the planet's healing。 The author encourages us to connect more to the Earth and with each other during this isloating time and to see it as an opportunity to connect in different ways。 It's so perfect for right now and just lovely in its own right。 O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic， quarantine， and our future posted on Facebook and quickly went viral。 I love that this book has taken that lovely poem and made it for kids。 I think it provides a positive message about our own healing and the planet's healing。 The author encourages us to connect more to the Earth and with each other during this isloating time and to see it as an opportunity to connect in different ways。 It's so perfect for right now and just lovely in its own right。 This passage touched me。 "And the people stayed home。 And they listened and read books。 And rested and exercised and made art and played games。 And learned new ways of being and were still。 And they listened more deeply。 Some meditated， some prayed， some danced。 Some met their shadows。 And the people began to think differently。 And the people healed。 And in the absence of people living in ignorant， dangerous， and heartless ways， the earth began to heal。 And when the danger passed and the people joined together again， they grieved their losses and made new choices and dreamed new images and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully， as they had been healed。"Beautiful。 So beautiful。If you want toi listen to my interview with the author， go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/kit。。。 。。。more
Jack & Lily Wills
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This is an illustrated version of a poem written at the beginning of covid。 I really enjoyed the illustrations but the words itself were not enjoyable to read to my kids。 I like the poem but as a picture book it just didn't work for me。 This is an illustrated version of a poem written at the beginning of covid。 I really enjoyed the illustrations but the words itself were not enjoyable to read to my kids。 I like the poem but as a picture book it just didn't work for me。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
Written by a fellow Wisconsinite who got her start at age 6， And the People Stayed Home beautifully illustrates the positive outcomes of the COVID-19 quarantine: the gift of time。 While the virus brings sickness， author Kitty O'Meara brings joy to the world--literally！ Her poem originally posted on Facebook and translated into more twenty languages。 It was choreographed as a ballet， put to music and sung by an opera singer， a children's choir in Italy， by a duo from a rooftop in Spain。 Her messa Written by a fellow Wisconsinite who got her start at age 6， And the People Stayed Home beautifully illustrates the positive outcomes of the COVID-19 quarantine: the gift of time。 While the virus brings sickness， author Kitty O'Meara brings joy to the world--literally！ Her poem originally posted on Facebook and translated into more twenty languages。 It was choreographed as a ballet， put to music and sung by an opera singer， a children's choir in Italy， by a duo from a rooftop in Spain。 Her message to readers is to feed your joy！ 。。。more
Victoria
，
I cheated and read through the reviews before I wrote mine because I was curious how people would react to the story as we've all had different responses to the pandemic。 I absolutely understand the sentiments of most of the one and two-starred reviews -- the pandemic has been hard， economically devastating， depressing， unsafe for people with violence in their homes， and as noticed by those of us who are educators and parents， developmentally stinting to school-aged children。 And these are only I cheated and read through the reviews before I wrote mine because I was curious how people would react to the story as we've all had different responses to the pandemic。 I absolutely understand the sentiments of most of the one and two-starred reviews -- the pandemic has been hard， economically devastating， depressing， unsafe for people with violence in their homes， and as noticed by those of us who are educators and parents， developmentally stinting to school-aged children。 And these are only a few experiences we've had during the COVID crisis。But in the beginning， things were much different。 Most of us were asked to stay home。 First responders and essential workers -- a much smaller number initially -- were lauded。 Politicians were forced to address housing， pay， and job loss。 And at the time， I don't believe anybody but epidemiologists were expecting things to unfold as they did。 No one suspected that the president of a developed country would shun common-sense medical advice and spread disinformation， resulting in a devastatingly prolonged shut down。 We looked to Italy and South Korea and we were possibly hopeful。 As O'Meara says， "And when the danger passed， and the people joined together again， they grieved their losses。" Clearly， this book was written at a time when she -- when we -- suspected that lovely moement was just around the corner。Many books don't age well （thinking of the number of renowned children's classics that are extremely problematic） and that may be the case for many of the readers of this book; it's qualities have been erased by the recency effect。 It's hard to remember what that first month was like because as I write this， it's been A YEAR。 So I want to give some validity to this one woman's experience at the VERY BEGINNING of the shut down。 I believe it serves as a good snapshot of March 2020。 It was scary and anxiety provoking but also， many people noted that for the first time in their adulthood， they were "slowing down。" Not everyone。 But a lot of people。 They were going outside to parks and nature in unprecedented numbers。 More family members were eating dinner and taking walks together。 For a moment， we looked away from our screens and we looked at who we were with。 We couldn't be busy， busy， busy， （at least outside our homes） so we noticed things -- some uncomfortable and scary， yes -- a bit more。 And I think she has another valid point; we have a second chance at fixing man-made damage to the planet。 That's how she ends the book。 "the people。。。created new ways to live， and heal the earth fully as they had been healed。" The hope is romantic （will we really keep it up？） but not far-fetched。 Scientists have recorded wild life returning to places they were absent from for a long time。 Far fewer people are in their cars and air and water quality has improved significantly。 People are experiencing the outdoors in unprecedented number。 My Gen Z children are hyper aware that they are growing up in an age of environmental crises。 They have worn n95 masks for the past four autumns because of wild fires。 They have grandparents who evacuated the last few years because of hurricanes。 They have an uncle and cousins whose homes were literally frozen by an unprecedented winter storm in Texas。 Every night， my youngest wants to say gratitudes and without fail， he states he is thankful for the earth getting cleaner and maybe better。 He almost always adds， "please help the grownups to keep it that way。" These kids hate the pandemic but this part of the book was relevant to them in a way I think we adults don't necessarily get。So when I read this book， I look at it as a beautiful snapshot， as a recording of the experiences some people had at the beginning。 As a reminder that there were things that this Pandemic changed in individuals and institutions for the better。 It is a books that also hopes we continue the urgency around the bad practices and systems we still need to fix。 。。。more
Emilie
，
3。5
Morgan
，
And the People Were Privileged。
DiKrLa
，
Picture book created based off the poem by the same title。 Captures the COVID pandemic quarantine in an elegant and honest way。 Love the illustrations， too。
Sarah
，
Nice art， but misses a lot of points that people have made below。
Kate McKenney
，
The illustrations in this book were lovely， but it paints a false narrative of how 2020 was for the collective。
Carolyn B
，
A bit too romantic of a view of the pandemic as a fun time to learn new skills and “heal” the earth:“And， in the absence of people living in ignorant， dangerous， and heartless ways， the earth began to heal。”
Jennifer
，
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a heartfelt poem about the potential of the human spirit in the face of a crisis。 Written in March - just as the pandemic started - it looks at the possibilities of living life in different ways。 It’s not ignorant of our individual struggles， but hopeful for our collective ability to persevere。
Meghan Bohn
，
Good book overall， but I *really* wish they didn't include the illustration of letting the pet fish go in the river。 IF the fish survives， it has the potential to wreck the ecosystem。 Good book overall， but I *really* wish they didn't include the illustration of letting the pet fish go in the river。 IF the fish survives， it has the potential to wreck the ecosystem。 。。。more
Angela
，
I found this offensively unrealistic。 Where are the essential workers who couldn’t stay home？ Where are all the kids？ Where is the suffering？ The poem may have been uplifting for some in March 2020， but the book published six months later does not reflect the trauma we’ve been through。
Tanya
，
This book is definitely optimistic， but that is also its downfall for me。 It is like looking at social media and seeing all of the happy faces and knowing there is another side not being displayed。 Only young readers won’t know that and are groomed to think they can only show this artistic， content， deep side of themselves; certainly that will be where the conversation begins while or after reading this。 I guess I was longing for more balance of the pandemic experience and even examples of empat This book is definitely optimistic， but that is also its downfall for me。 It is like looking at social media and seeing all of the happy faces and knowing there is another side not being displayed。 Only young readers won’t know that and are groomed to think they can only show this artistic， content， deep side of themselves; certainly that will be where the conversation begins while or after reading this。 I guess I was longing for more balance of the pandemic experience and even examples of empathy， possibly even overcoming grief if someone close developed sickness or died。 It’s a very limited experience shown。 It does gain a star for its introduction about taking care of the planet and connecting with nature and taking a creative approach。 So， two stars because this book was “okay。” 。。。more
Maureen
，
A good pandemic read together book for young children with adults。
Shirley
，
This book is a super rosy view on what is going on during the pandemic。 If you're looking for more realism and lessons for children， this isn't it。 This book is a super rosy view on what is going on during the pandemic。 If you're looking for more realism and lessons for children， this isn't it。 。。。more
adeservingporcupine
，
🙄🤮
Amanda
，
It was the year of COVID-19 except。。。in this lovely fantasy version where everyone doesn't have to wear masks。 Everyone is wealthy and privileged enough to stay at home and do whatever pleases them。 ALL OF THE TIME。 Feel like painting？ Go for it！ Feel like flinging paint on your doggo and calling it a game？ Go for it！ Feel like dancing？ Go for it！ Feel like listening to your fish for hours on end while your cat stares in a creepy manner that says， "I have plans for you， Fish。" Go for it！ You OBV It was the year of COVID-19 except。。。in this lovely fantasy version where everyone doesn't have to wear masks。 Everyone is wealthy and privileged enough to stay at home and do whatever pleases them。 ALL OF THE TIME。 Feel like painting？ Go for it！ Feel like flinging paint on your doggo and calling it a game？ Go for it！ Feel like dancing？ Go for it！ Feel like listening to your fish for hours on end while your cat stares in a creepy manner that says， "I have plans for you， Fish。" Go for it！ You OBVIOUSLY do NOT have to work， AT ALL。 And you have NO CHILDREN to try and school during this crisis。 Your children don't exist so they aren't going MAD being stuck at home all day long with their lives and routines totally upended。 And YOU personally aren't going MAD trying to cope with all of this and help your non-existent children cope while you are dealing with a lost job or sick/dying loved ones。 SO BLISS OUT。And when everything is ALL BETTER， and we have healed the earth， you can GO AHEAD AND RUIN EVERYTHING by releasing possibly invasive species into the wild willy-nilly！ Go for it！ Yeah， privileged fantastical you。 What a perfectly splendid plague this has been！ Why did everyone make such a fuss？ 。。。more
Aimee
，
A picture book illustrating what people did inside during the pandemic。 The second half was a bit preachy about the environment。 See also LeUyen Pham's Outside Inside。 A picture book illustrating what people did inside during the pandemic。 The second half was a bit preachy about the environment。 See also LeUyen Pham's Outside Inside。 。。。more
Lesley
，
A quarantine picture book with a positive togetherness outlook。
Kimberly Wright Oelkers
，
Well written。 I hope for that future。
Kelsey
，