A girl from a faraway place begins her first day at school. She doesn’t speak the language and she looks different. She just doesn’t fit in. But one day, she makes an unexpected friend—a squirrel! Then a rabbit joins them. Soon the girl’s fuzzy woodland friends are followed by human ones and school becomes more fun! When a surprising new student joins the class, the girl and her new friends know just how to make him feel at home.
The message of inclusion is often seen in picture books, but sharing food to make friends is a gentle suggestion that may help children starting school or meeting new arrivals with a language barrier.
Ikegami’s soothing water-washed visuals are soft and infused with pastels. The spare text lets the illustrations tell most of this tale of the importance of being kind and making friends. Libraries will want to make room on their shelves for this “new kid” in the collection.
The soft, fuzzy lines and colors create a cozy, nonthreatening atmosphere, and the humor softens any potential didacticism.
The books uses minimal text, relying more on soft and appealing illustrations to share the story.
The lush illustrations are enough to make a parent or child adore this book, but the story will capture a reader’s heart.
