Please welcome Kat Zhang with her picture book list about being the new kid.
In the latest Amy Wu book, Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome, Amy tries her hardest to welcome a new boy to her class. But no matter what she does, she can’t make the connection she wants! It isn’t until she comes up with an out-of-the-box idea—and experiences some nerve-wracking jitters of her own—that she finally succeeds in making her classmate feel comfortable in his new school.
Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua
Amy Wu does her best to make her new classmate feel welcome in this warmhearted and playfully illustrated follow-up picture book to Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Most kids will experience being the New Kid at some point or another, whether it’s because they’ve moved to a new town or because they’ve joined a new sports team. Here are five wonderful books that tackle the many trials that come with being a newcomer!
We are giving away Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
6 Picture Books About Being the New Kid
Home Is In Between by Mitali Perkins, Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
This is such a beautifully written and illustrated book about a little girl moving from one country to another. The words have a lovely rhythm, and the pictures—especially those of Shanti’s home and family—have so much warmth. Perkins highlights so well the feeling of being “stuck” between two cultures, and of missing a faraway home while coming to love a new community. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Isabel and her Colores Go to School by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Courtney Dawson
In this sweet story, Isabel is not only the new kid at school—unsure what “morning exercises” are and feeling like there’s no room for her at story time, but also nervous about attending a class where everyone speaks English. Alessandri and Dawson use colors to great effect, illustrating the differences between Spanish and English to Isabel and underscoring her frustration and embarrassment, as well as her joy when she finally connects with a classmate through her drawing. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Marshal Armstrong is New to Our School by David Mackintosh
Kids will love the funny and emphatic voice of the narrator—who isn’t a fan of new kid Marshal at all! He utterly resents having to sit next to him in class and being forced to attend his birthday party… until said party ends up being amazing! Quickly, he learns that someone being different isn’t a bad thing at all—it’s actually kind of awesome. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, Illustrated by Alea Marley
Just like Isabel of Isabel and her Colores Go to School, Harpreet Singh expresses his emotions through colors. Yellow is for sunny moods, pink for celebrating, and red for courage. But when Harpreet has to move to a new town, he starts wearing blue (for nervousness) and grey (for sadness)… and a whole lot of white (for shyness). This sweet book lovingly showcases all the emotions one can feel being the new kid in an unfamiliar place. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
A New Kind of Wild by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
When Zen moves from his old home on the edge of el Yunque, surrounded by nature and full of magic, he is filled with homesickness. His new home in the loud, bustling city doesn’t help. A neighbor, Ava, tries her best to show him how amazing the city can be, but it isn’t until she learns what he loved so much about his old home that she’s able to get through to him about what his new home has to offer. A wonderful story about coming to appreciate someplace new! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional. The former has better souvenirs, but the latter allows for dragons, so it’s a tough choice. A writer of books for teens and children, she spends her free time growing plants on the balcony, raiding local bookstores, and plotting where to travel next. You can learn more about her at katzhang.com, and by following her on Twitter @KatZhang and Instagram @KatZhangWriter.
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p.s. Related posts:
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Asian Culture and KidLit series: Nissin Foods Connection
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Isabel and Her Colores Go to School is one of my favorites.
Love the books you have in this. Adding these titles to my read alouds.
Love Amy Wu, so excited for another book!
We just bought “Right Now I Am Kind” by Daniela Owen.
no fav
These look great! I always read Chrysanthemum with my first graders at the start of school.
No favorite, but would love to add some of these to my first grade class!
We love the book about empathy called The Sea of Stars
I am a huge fan of your books. You are such a talented author to help shape young minds. I am adding a few of these to my list for my students. Thank you!