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The Day Saida Arrived

The Day Saida Arrived

by Susana Gómez Redondo

Illustrated by Sonja Wimmer

Translated by Lawrence Schimel

Published by: Blue Dot Kids Press

Imprint: Blue Dot Kids Press

32 Pages, 9.50 x 8.70 in, Color illustrations throughout

Hardcover
9781733121255
Published: September 2020

$17.95

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Description
Authors
Praise

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.

Susana Gómez 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 loves painting pictures and telling stories. After studying and working some years as a graphic designer in her hometown of Munich, and Brussels, she decided to pack her suitcase and move to Barcelona to study Illustration at the "Llotja" Arts and Crafts School. Since then she lives between brushes and all kinds of wonderful tales, working as freelance illustrator around the world. Over the last years various of her books have been awarded in the United States. The Journey of The Captain Scaredy Cat is her first book with NubeOcho Ediciones. Her book Bogo, the Fox Who Wanted Everything is a Junior Library Guild Selection.

Lawrence Schimel is a full-time author, writing in both Spanish and English, who has published over one hundred twenty books in a wide range of genres. He is also a prolific literary translator whose translations include La Bastarda (a Global Literature in Libraries Best Translated YA Honor Book, Lambda Literary Award finalist, and ALA Rainbow Book List selection) and Out in the Open (an Eisner Award finalist). He currently lives in Madrid.

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

The Day Saida Arrived

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