Hello! - by Gina K Lewis (Hardcover)

About the Book

This two--in-one book tells of the challenges young refugees must navigate to find a sense of belonging in a new place, while also how it is seen through the eyes of the students who receive them as they discover the power of embracing differences.

Book Synopsis

Meet Habiba, Aleksander, Malee, Elisa and Dinesh. They have left everything they have ever known and arrived in a classroom in a new country. Meet Grace, Jaylyn, Cameron, Miguel and Yu. They have never lived anywhere else. Hello! A Welcoming Story is the journey through the challenges that young refugees must navigate to find a sense of belonging in a new place. Flip it over and this two-books-in one also tells this story through the eyes of the students who welcome them in. In this Welcoming Story, all discover the power of embracing differences. Young refugees have traversed the world, escaped violence, and yet still struggle with the sense of identity forged in the way they dress, the foods they eat. The youngsters in this book encourage each other to be their unique and authentic selves. It is powerful for children to imagine themselves on both sides of this shared experience. It will elicit complex and important conversations with students of any age. Share this diverse book with your children and grandchildren, with your students and their teachers, and with your new neighbors. Experience the joy of feeling accepted and remember the power of a simple Hello!

Review Quotes

"It's a joy to read-and especially important as refugee children from different countries start school and integrate into communities across the UK." --Enver Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of the Refugee Council

"A vibrant and engaging story aimed at early-years and early primary ages [told from] the perspectives of both newly arrived students and their classmates... A fantastic resource for getting young children to think about sanctuary, home and welcome." --Megan Greenwood, Schools of Sanctuary Support Officer, Sanctuary Ambassador Network & Sanctuary in Politics Course Coordinator, City of Sanctuary UK

"Beautiful and touching, and a delight to read. I'm impressed with both the message of welcoming and acceptance, as well as the colourful and engaging illustrations. It is equally supportive of the newcomers and of the friends they will meet when they get here." --Dr. Eric M. Meyers, Assistant Professor at the School of Information at the University of British Columbia

"This is a very important message to be sharing in the current climate, especially in the U.S. Let's hope it will support both those who are displaced and those who are in the host community." --Prof. Evelyn Arizpe, Senior Lecturer at the School of Education in the University of Glasgow

"We need such stories to understand how life for other people can be completely different, what stories they bring and may share if only we are open to receive them, and then maybe find there are experiences we have in common..." --Prof. Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak, Ph.D., D.Litt., Director of the Center for Young People's Literature and Culture, University of Wroclaw

"What an excellent book. Its two-in-one form is brilliant...This book will be well received in many schools in Canada in some more progressive ones in the USA, and contribute to the critical task of teaching children about diversity, acceptance, and empathy." --Dr. Mateusz Świetlicki, Department of American Literature and Culture, Institute of English Studies, Centre for Research on Children's and Young Adult Literature, University of Wroclaw, and Fulbright Ambassador

About the Author

Gina K. Lewis has taught English as a New Language (ENL) for more than a decade. She has worked with hundreds of children from around the world, most of them refugees. The courageous journeys featured in this book are based on actual experiences shared with her by her students. Their stories and the extraordinary kindness that she has witnessed in the classroom, inspired her to write this book. She has a master's degree in TESOL and lives in Western New York with her husband and their two sons. María José Campos is an illustrator and animation filmmaker. Born in Peru, she graduated from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru in Audiovisual Communication and then studied Classical Animation at the Vancouver Film School. Her film Little Goddess has been screened at more than 25 festivals worldwide and her animated projects Camaquen and Chicho and Darz have won national awards. She also manages her animation and design company MJ Campos and has illustrated nearly a dozen published children's books. She is currently living in Århus, Denmark, while completing an Erasmus Mundus master's degree in Children's Literature, Media and Culture at the University of Glasgow, University of Århus and University of Wroclaw. She is interested in telling stories about identity, cultural heritage and nature to inspire children and adults.