Merrigold's Very Best Home

Author: Marcia Lee Laycock
Illustrated by: Kyla Wiebe
Genre: Children
Release Date: October 1, 2022
Publisher: Siretona Kids

Merrigold is a little girl who thinks she needs a new home. She visits several animal characters and soon realizes that their homes aren’t suited to her at all. A wise piglet finally tells her to go home to her own house and when she does she realizes she already has the very best home and the very best parents in all the world.

Meant to help parents and grandparents cultivate contentment in the children they love, this story is a ‘the grass is not always greener’ or should I say, ‘the house is not always better’ story with an ending reminiscent of the story of the prodigal son. Parents and grandparents will have an opportunity to talk about being grateful, unconditional love and forgiveness in terms the child can understand.

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Reviewer: Joy Hannabass

Merrigold is so sure she doesn't like her own home that she packs her bag and strikes out on her own. After all, why should she have to obey her parents when she didn't like what they made her do. Who eats vegetables anyway, and who takes a bath every day? Surely there was another home for her that was much better, and she didn't have to listen to anyone.

But as she makes her way around to the raven's nest, the doghouse, and the rest of the homes she knows of, they just don't work for her, and she ends up dirty, hungry, with sticks in her hair. She is just a mess. So, she decides to go back home to where she belongs.

This is a very cute story. A story with a valuable lesson that teaches children the importance of their home and family. And that even though we don't always like the rules our parents have for us, it's for our own benefit. Your children are sure to love this sweet book.

Kyla Wiebe is responsible for the beautiful illustrations throughout the book and on the cover. They go perfectly with the story. I think Merrigold's Very Best Home by Marcia Lee Laycock would be a nice addition to any child's library and any elementary school classroom. 

I received a copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Linda Klager

Merrigold did not like to take baths, naps, or eat vegetables.  She decided that she needed a new home.

She visited various animals and a bird and temporarily lived in each one's home.  She did not like their homes.  After all these visits Merrigold decided that her home with her parents was the very best home after all.

I loved the story and the illustrations!  We all need to be grateful for what we have and thank God for His blessings every day.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Jane Mouttet

I think every kid at some point wishes they lived someplace else. Sometimes those feelings are justified, but sometimes the kiddo just needs to be grateful for the blessings in their life. 

Author Marcia Lee Laycock tells the story of a little girl who isn’t happy with having to take naps or baths or having to eat her vegetables. She decides God made a mistake and goes to look for a different place to live. She finds a wide variety of animals who are willing to let her visit their homes, but Merrigold finds that none of those homes meet her needs. Each of the animals encourages her to go back home, but it takes six animals telling her that before she decides to return home. 

One of Laycock’s goals for the story is to teach children to be grateful. In the process, they will learn about six animal homes that are just right for the animal but not right for a little girl. 

I love Kyla Wiebe’s illustrations. They do a great job of showing the story in pictures and will help children “read” the book on their own after an adult has read it to them. 

Laycock closes the book with a letter to parents with some suggestions for using the book with their children. 

Merrigold’s Very Best Home would be a great addition to a K-12 Christian school library’s picture book section. It would also make a great addition to a family or church library. It is appropriate for preschoolers and young elementary children.

I received a complimentary copy from the author through Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest review. 

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