Just Say Welcome

PreS-Gr 3–Tilly is anxious when her mother tells her and her brother Adam that an Iraqi family is coming to stay with them while they wait for their new apartment, so she asks “What should I do?” Her mother’s answer—“Just say welcome”—sets the tone for this simple story celebrating the value of hospitality. The two families (one Jewish, one Iraqi) grocery shop together, share a flavorful meal from a neighbor that tastes “just like home,” and spend the week playing soccer, board games, and becoming friends. Despite its didacticism, the story highlights the Jewish tradition of welcoming strangers and also nods to a community coming together to support immigrants or refugees; it’s not specified why the Iraqi family has come, but they “only have a few suitcases.” Aided by colorful, warm illustrations created digitally (some moments look as if they were simply copied and pasted), the story offers young children an avenue toward connecting despite cultural differences, a message that, especially now, deserves to be amplified.