Demonstrates the importance of welcoming people from all over the world into the community with love, compassion, and acceptance. - (Baker & Taylor)

Learn how to welcome new neighbors into your community, particularly when they might be far from home, in this uplifting and diverse picture book that champions human connection and inclusivity. After all, the world is everyone's home and we're one big family!

When we see someone new in our neighborhood, how can we help them feel safe and loved and important?

How can we tell them, you're not alone?

There are so many ways!

From the creators of Miry's List, the nonprofit that has helped thousands of refugees, Our World is a Family is an all-ages picture book exploring the complicated topic of human migration in a gentle, loving, and affirming way. It lightly touches on the reason people might leave their homes, like climate change or lack of safety, and inspires children to welcome their new neighbors into their communities with love.

Booklist Reviews

This warm, welcoming picture book opens the door to discussions about how to be a good neighbor and build a compassionate community. The words "I'm Here" colorfully cover the endpapers and are written in several languages, including English, Arabic, and Somali. In a child-friendly manner, reasons for human migration are briefly explained. The succinct text, cowritten by the founder of Miry's List (a nonprofit organization assisting refugee families), emphasizes, with empathy, commonalities: "No matter what language they speak, people everywhere want to feel safe and loved and important." The conversation continues with actionable suggestions to help new arrival families feel at home, like sharing a friendly smile, cooking a new food, or just saying "I'm here." Perez's winsome digital cartoons highlight personal connection in scenes of cooperative play and joyful embraces. Accepted and received into their new neighborhood, adults and children of many different cultures, religions, and abilities gaze directly at the reader, waving and holding up welcome signs of their own. A good choice to inspire acts of kindness and galvanize positive change. Preschool-Grade 2. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—A timely exploration of migration and refugees for young readers. Whitehill conveys why people may need to leave their countries, and that sometimes they leave parts of themselves behind as well. Providing them with a welcome on the other side of their journey is also part of the message. This book is a valuable tool for facilitating conversations about the topic. The illustrations resemble textured crayon drawings which promote a childlike tone further making the situations outlined in the book accessible, even relatable, to the picture book audience. The people are of varied skin tones and ages. Their respective languages are highlighted with colorful text acting as a celebration of cultures and an early introduction to world languages. VERDICT An essential purchase for libraries to help teach empathy and understanding about refugees and migration.—Myiesha Speight