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.
About the Author
Kitty O’Meara lives near Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, Phillip Hagedorn, their five rescue dogs, three cats, gardens, and books. A former teacher of middle school writing and literature and a hospital and hospice chaplain and currently a spiritual director, O’Meara has been a lifelong writer and artist. And the People Stayed Home is her first print book.
About the Illustrators
Co-illustrated by Stefano Di Cristofaro and Paul Pereda. Stefano Di Cristofaro is an illustrator and designer whose works have been widely exhibited. He has illustrated the children’s books Conejo y Conejo, Guachipira va de viaje, and La Sayona y otros cuentos de espantos.
Paul Pereda is an illustrator who has primarily worked in video game development and trading card games with clients such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Atari, and MTV.
Industry Reviews
“Kitty O’Meara offers us wisdom that can help during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She is challenging us to grow”
Deepak Chopra, MD, author, Metahuman
“Kitty O’Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic”
O, The Oprah Magazine
“An eloquent, heart-warming reflection that will resonate with generations to come… encouragement for a brighter tomorrow.”
Kate Winslet, Academy Award-winning actress
“It captured the kind of optimism people need right now.”
Esquire (UK)
“Kitty O’Meara…captured the world’s attention with her poem…showing readers the ways that the stillness and quiet could heal.”
Wisconsin State Journal
“A stunning and peaceful offering of introspection and hope.”
The Children’s Book Review
“Kitty O’Meara’s pandemic poem is a story for all ages about living in a challenging and troubling world— awake and full of hope—with an awareness of our own resilience.”
Susan Lambert, psychotherapist and host of the podcast In the Balance
“One of the most popular pandemic poems to date …the emotion she shared resonated through a prism of social media remixes, showing up in images on Instagram, in YouTube videos, reposted on Twitter and beyond. It was translated into dozens of languages and even turned into song.”
To the Best of Our Knowledge (NPR)
“And the People Stayed Home is a deeply reflective poem that offers a hopeful and helpful message for people of all ages during this challenging time. It encourages everyone to think about…this difficult moment and to use it for good—to heal ourselves and those we love, and to consider how we might come together as one to heal the world.”
Dr. Judy Ho, neuropsychologist, author, and television and podcast host
“It’s obvious why this meditative poem has resonated so deeply with people: It inserts the idea of individual agency back into something out of our control, and imagines that the time after this will not only exist—it’ll be better than before.”
Book Riot
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