The Day Saida Arrived

by Susana Gomez Redondo and Sonja Wimmer

Sonja Wimmer (Illustrator) and Lawrence Schimel (Translator)

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.

• ISBN13: 9781733121255
• Publish Date: 22 October 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Blue Dot Kids Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 32
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Day Saida Arrived is a beautifully and simply written and illustrated story of friendship. Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Blue Dots Kids Press, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a wonderfully written and illustrated story of two young girls who don't have a common language to express themselves but don't let that stand in the way of their friendship. They each learn words of all shapes and sizes in each others' languages (Arabic and English). The book is illustrated bilingually with both English and Arabic letters for the things the girls see and experience.

I liked that the author actually writes about some of the differences in the sounds in each of the languages and how the girls find it funny and challenging when their tongues get into tangles trying to roll their 'r's and, and how Saida's 'e's sound like 'i's sometimes.

This is a beautiful book about breaking down barriers and celebrating cultural differences. The ethereal art incorporates lettering in both English and Arabic in context to illustrate how learning another language encompasses more than just learning a glossary.

I really enjoyed this book. It would make a superlative selection for classroom or library, as well as a beautiful gift for a young person.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes