Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community (Orca Think, 2)

★ “An outstanding, sophisticated introduction to a complex topic, this book encourages readers to prioritize kindness towards and dignity for people experiencing homelessness. ­Recommended as a first purchase.”―School Library Journal, starred review

There are 150 million people experiencing homelessness worldwide, and that number is increasing every year.

Homelessness is not a choice, yet it exists in almost every community. But why are people homeless? Who are they? What can you do? In Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community, readers will get answers to these complex questions. They’ll learn about the root causes of homelessness and its effects, and what people and organizations around the world are doing to address the problem. It shares the personal stories of unhoused people and the adults and kids who work with them. As a former homeless-shelter worker, author Lois Peterson encourages young people to approach the issue with knowledge and compassion. She dispels some of the myths about homelessness and makes the case for why everyone deserves a safe, permanent place to call home.

Lois Peterson is the award-winning author of eight books of fiction for children, and numerous short stories, essays and articles for adults. She was the executive director of a homeless shelter and worked at a public library for more than 40 years. Lois lives in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Taryn Gee is an artist who specializes in lifestyle illustration and possesses an affinity for both figurative and narrative art. She has been illustrating since 2011 after earning her bachelor of applied arts at Sheridan College. Her work has garnered numerous awards, appearing across various local and international publications. Some of Taryn’s clients include The National Post, The Globe and Mail, IBM, RBC, LA Galaxy and the social networking service Ravelry. Taryn is passionate about the process and exploratory nature of traditional sketching and often finds herself filling many pages of her various sketchbooks. She lives in Stoney Creek, Ontario.