Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist (2020)

Two girls forge a forever-friendship by learning each other's language. The Day Saida Arrived demonstrates the power of language to build bonds beyond borders.

What happens when a new friend arrives who doesn't speak your language? A young girl searches for the words to help her friend feel welcome and happy in her new home, and along the way learns about differences and similarities in countries and words. The two forge a strong bond while they each learn the other's language, exploring the world around them.

A joyous, lyrical text-including English translations and pronunciations and the complete Arabic alphabet-offers an accessible, fresh approach to talking about immigration. Paired with lushly vivid illustrations, The Day Saida Arrived demonstrates the power of language to build bonds beyond borders. Printed on FSC-certified paper with vegetable-based inks.

Galleys available (physical and digital) National print campaign, including Publishers Weekly, The New York Times, and School Library Journal Online/social media campaigns with children's book reviewers, parenting magazines and mom blogs Giveaways to educators via Teachingbooks.net and Learning magazine Bookseller/librarian outreach Goodreads Giveways and ABA's Advance Access Program and conferences Partnerships with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books and I'm Your Neighbor Books

About the Author
Susana Gomez Redondo has degrees in information sciences, literary theory, and comparative literature. She has published multiple picture books and teaches Pedagogy at the Soria University School of Education. Sonja Wimmer is a renowned international illustrator. Her books are among the most best-selling in Europe. In the USA She has received the Independent Publisher Book Award, the International Latino Book, and she was two times winner of the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. Her book Bogo the Fox Who Wanted Everythingis a Junior Library Guild Selection.

Reviews

NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts (2021)

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist (2020)

"Best Children's Books of the Year" (2020) -Bank Street College of Education

"A lyrical, playful book about immigration, respect, learning, and friendship across cultures. Remarkably, the exchange between the two new friends presents the two languages and cultures as equal and the learning as reciprocal, offering a great resource for learning about immigration and cultural difference." Kirkus Reviews

"Each child's knowledge and competence is equally valued as the two embark on a balanced friendship ..." Publishers Weekly

"Exploring and widening each other worlds through language and friendship, these girls are a model for promoting a culture of welcoming and belonging."-Abdelaziz Rhazzali, I'm Your Neighbor Books

"The lyricism of the words and the surrealism of the pictures in The Day Saida Arrived transport you to a better world, one without borders. You'll want to read, then re-read this book to discover all the delightful details packed into the intricate illustrations and unwrap the nuance of words written in not one but two languages, from two seemingly different worlds bridged by the universal language of love and friendship." - Krystia Basil, author of A Sky Without Lines, a National Council of Social Studies Notable Book

Book Information
ISBN 9781733121255
Author Susana Gomez Redondo
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint Blue Dot Kids Press
Publisher Blue Dot Kids Press