When her teacher praises Belle’s drawing of an owl and asks how she made him look alive, Belle just shrugs and shakes her head. The owl is part of her private story and not for sharing. Belle and her mom used to have a house, but now they live in their old blue car. They spend nights in a tree-filled park, and Belle’s mom says they’re lucky when the nearby owl hoots because he’s “keeping an eye on you and me.” Belle wants to see the owl but only hears his “hooty lullaby” until the night he alights on a nearby branch. As they look into each other’s eyes, she finds comfort in the owl’s presence. Belle believes she’ll never share her experience, until the day she sees a new boy arriving at school in an old blue car, looking as if he might cry. Thinking of her owl, she shows the new boy around, as if to say “I’m here. I understand. I’ll keep my eye on you.” Belle’s living situation is presented on her own terms, neither romanticized nor catastrophized, in a skillfully understated and child-centered narrative. Each thoughtfully chosen word serves a purpose, matter-of-factly expressing the reality of Belle being unhoused while also beautifully conveying her mother’s loving support and care, and Belle’s empathy for her classmate. The illustrations’ edgy realism is anchored by deep nighttime shades of black, blue, and green.