Book to Teach Children about Homelessness

Ears Up, Ears Down: A Dog's Journey Home

The Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness has released Ears Up, Ears Down: A Dog’s Journey Home, a picture book — with a corresponding activity book — about an adventurous dog named Ears Up, Ears Down, who becomes homeless after the junkyard where he lives is foreclosed upon.

He spends a night with a family living in their car before arriving at a tent city full of men, women, and children, showing the different experiences of homeless families.

Children in grades K-2 are invited to embark on a journey with the curious dog as he makes new friends, overcomes difficulties, and finally finds a place to call home.

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Ears Up, Ears Down is the sixth in the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness’ series of children’s books designed to introduce all school-age children to issues surrounding family homelessness and poverty.

Ears Up, Ears Down: A Dog's Journey Home

The series also helps homeless children identify and understand their struggles and the emotions they feel while homeless. Ears Up, Ears Down, written by Ralph da Costa Nunez with Margaret Menghini and illustrated by Madeline Gerstein Simon, is being released during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 10-18.

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Ears Up, Ears Down story book ($4.95) and activity book ($1.95) can be purchased at ICPHusa.org or Amazon.

The Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness is an independent nonprofit research and policy analysis organization based in New York City.

ICPH studies the impact of poverty on family and child well-being in order to improve public policies and programming at the local, state, and national levels.