A Shelter in Our Car

Summary of Book

Zettie and her Mama left their warm and comfortable home in Jamaica for an uncertain life in the United Sates. With Papa gone, Mama can't find a steady job that will sustain them and so they are forced to live in their car. But Mama's unwavering love, support, and gutsy determination give Zettie the confidence that, together, she and her mother can meet all challenges. Monica Gunning's moving and authentic story about homelessness in an American city was developed with the help of the Homeless Children’s Network in San Francisco. Elaine Pedlar's strong and lively illustrations bring the story to life in vibrant chalk pastel.

Author Biography

Born in Jamaica, children’s book author Monica Gunning moved to New York City when she was 18 years old. She earned her BA from the City University of New York and her M.S.Ed. from Mount St. Mary’s College and studied at the University of Guadalajara. Gunning has authored Under the Breadfruit Tree: Island Poems (1998), Not a Copper Penny in Me House: Poems from the Caribbean (1999), America, My New Home (2013), and A Shelter in Our Car (2013), among others. Her poetry frequently invokes images of the Caribbean as well as immigrant experiences. She lives in Laguna Niguel, California, and has worked as a bilingual teacher.

Illustrator Biography

Elaine Pedlar was born in Queens, New York, the youngest girl of seven children. She graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1987 and, since then, has been a fashion designer. Single and living in a loft in Brooklyn, she has nine nieces and nephews that she loves dearly. This is her first book for children. (Photo credit: Brian Sullivan)