There's No Place Like My Own Home

By Florenza Lee, Sofania Dellart and Fx and Color Studio

Today is Alyssa's first day at Lee Ponder Intermediate School. Along with learning new names, faces, and classrooms, she has to maintain her secret. One that she doesn't want anyone to know, not even her new best friend, Onika.

When Alyssa's teacher gives the class an assignment to write a letter to a student living in Alabama whose school and home were destroyed by a tornado, she bears her soul. However, when the note is lost and believes the school's bully, Marcus has found it and fears soon the entire school will know what she has tried to keep secret for so long. In the end, a fantastic sequence of events unfold.

ABOUT THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE MY OWN HOME
Readers have enjoyed this book as young as second grade, and the comments from parents, educators, children, counselors, and more may be summed up in this one sentence, "Although Alyssa and her mom are homeless, they are not hopeless." The book may be used in conjunction with classroom Standard of Learning subjects such as Language Arts, Health, Social Studies, Government, and Public Speaking.

There's No Place Like My Own Home has been found helpful for Social-Emotional Learning to include (but is not limited to) kindness, gratitude, sufficient conflict resolution, positive self-image. The reader will also learn how to reduce aggressive behavior, demonstrate self-control, manage emotions, set positive goals, engage in positive relations, and learn to solve problems effectively. Lastly, the book has an anti-bullying message.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Words to Ponder Publishing Company, LLC
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781941328156

Florenza Lee

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Florenza is the author of engaging, interactive, Children’s books focusing on Social Emotional Learning. Her dynamic characters capture the readers’ attention immediately, and her lessons remain long after the book is closed. She is also a publisher, narrative coach, speaker, radio talk show host, Master Storyteller, wife, and mother. Florenza and her husband, CSM (Ret US Army) Trefus Lee, have been married for nearly 41 years and reside in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Their daughters, Jessica and Missy, call Las Vegas, Nevada, and Chagrin Falls, Ohio, home. Florenza welcomes your reviews and hopes you will follow her on any of her social media sites. Happy Reading. Published titles by Florenza are: Adventurous Olivia’s Alphabet Quest Adventurous Olivia's Calm Quest: A Book on Mindfulness Adventurous Olivia's Numerical Quest Amiri’s Birthday Wish Adventurous Olivia’s Calm Quest – A Book on Mindfulness Barry Bear’s Very Best, Learning to Say No to Negative Influences Brooklyn Beaver ALMOST Builds a Dam If…The Story of Faith Walker Manny & Tutu Mind Your Manners, Mia There’s No Place Like My Own Home The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog, A Children’s Book on Mindfulness Welcome Home Daddy, Love, Lexi When Life Gives Us Wind O'Kapi Who Made That Sound? Animals and their sounds in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Connect with Florenza on the web at www.florenza.org, Facebook: Florenza_Denise_Lee, Instagram: Florenza_denise_lee, LinkedIn: @Florenza_Lee, and Twitter: @Florenza_lee.

Book preview

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Alyssa, don’t forget to grab your bookbag.

Yes, Ma’am.

Today is the first day of my new class.

I’m so excited, but extremely anxious, too. I am not worried about school. I love learning, like really, really love it. Today I am nervous because this is not only a new class, it is a new school as well. We were forced to relocate when we lost our home.

I miss my old house.

My bedroom.

My toys.

My friends.

My life.

Mom says that even though we no longer live there if we have breath in our bodies, we have everything we need. I know she is right, but boy, do I miss the way things used to be.

Patiently, we await the arrival of the school bus. Mom says, Remember to say, ‘Yes, Ma′am′ to your new teacher, raise your hand if you have the answer, eat all your lunch, and bring home your homework.

At the mention of the word home, a sad look comes over her face. The bus is approaching, so we can’t discuss what just happened; instead, I give her an extra big hug.

From my bus seat, I watch through the dirt-streaked window as she slowly makes her way to our car. She must go to work now. I place my hand on the glass as we drive past her. She doesn’t see me; her head is down as she sits behind the steering wheel. She looks like she is crying. I silently whisper a prayer for her to have the strength she needs for today.

Wiping away the tear that is trying to escape my eye, I divert my attention to something else. I glance at the other kids on the bus with me. Many are wearing new clothes and footwear; they also have brightly colored bookbags, some with tags still hanging from them.

I glimpse down at my shoes. They are not new. My dress is clean, but it is wrinkled and not new. My bookbag is the same one I have used since third grade. Subconsciously, I slide it under my seat with my not-so-new sneakers.

Hey, girl, hey, says a voice from behind me. I turn to see a girl with afro puff ponytails and a gigantic grin. Her hair is so amazing! I have never in all my life seen hair that big.

I awkwardly wave, then blurt out, Wow, I really like your hair. It comes out more like a squeak than a statement. Embarrassed, I turn to look out the window again.

Thank you! she responds while patting her hair and plopping down in the empty seat beside me. Are you new? I don’t remember seeing you before.

She smells adorable, like the tropical flower section of the botanical garden my dad used to take me to. Great hair and she smells nice. Feeling uncomfortable with my lack of personal space, I shift a bit in my seat, easing closer to the window.

Are you new? she repeats, only a bit louder this time. Gazing downward, I nod yes. I’m Onika, she says, extending her hand to shake mine. Onika’s friendliness puts me at ease. I stop attempting to become one with the side of the bus and turn towards her.

While chatting, I discover we are the same age and grade. Even better, we are both in Ms. Thompson’s class. Onika says I will adore Ms. T., as they call her. She is a fantastic teacher. Knowing I will be in the same classroom with this kind girl and have a great teacher causes me to smile. Today is already turning out to be a spectacular first day.

TUMMY RUMBLE

After giving me the grand tour, Onika and I put away our belongings in our lockers. Do you want to have breakfast? she asks. Everyone goes to the cafeteria to eat; it’s our hangout spot. As she is asking, my tummy growls, and she hears it. I am embarrassed, but before I could look away, she giggles and says, Your tummy is like my tummy! Let’s go give them some food."

While in line, waiting for a girl wearing a denim jacket and rainbow leggings to decide if she wants a banana or an apple, a boy with messy blonde hair shoves past us, grabs his food, then loudly flops