Review by Booklist Review
The night before entering kindergarten in a new country, Mina has strange dreams. In the morning, she and her mother arrive at the classroom door, and Mina cautiously peeks through the keyhole and then enters the class. The teacher welcomes her, but the only word that sounds familiar is Mina's name. She finds "a lonely teddy bear" and holds on tight. The next day, Mina makes a friend. Each night, Mina tells Mama all about her day at school. Gradually, she learns the new language and feels so comfortable in her classroom that when a new boy arrives, she welcomes him and helps him feel at home. Created using watercolors, acrylic paints, and digital elements, the expressive illustrations include pictures of Mina's dreams as well as classroom scenes, which start out in monochrome gray tones. Gradually the scenes become more colorful and, ultimately, quite vibrant as Mina slowly picks up her new language and begins to feel part of the group. First published in Germany, this appealing picture book reflects the experiences of many immigrant children throughout the world.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--A beautifully simple story about a young immigrant girl's experience going to a new school in a new country and speaking a new language. Text and illustration convey the confusion Mina feels before she understands the language everyone in class is speaking. The illustrations are expressive and use a slow introduction of color to mimic how Mina slowly adapts to her new surroundings and transitions from feelings of anxiety and loneliness to feelings of acceptance and happiness. As Mina grows more comfortable and makes new friends, more color is introduced, and the color scheme shifts from muted colors of blues and grays to a vibrant color scheme. All readers will empathize with Mina's anxiety about joining a new school and making friends. Mina's origin country and her new country are purposely left ambiguous so that this story could be applicable to many different immigrant experiences. VERDICT The use of lyrical and uplifting text combined with gorgeous artwork masterfully tells a story of a young child struggling in a new environment and eventually gaining self-confidence and friendship of others. Recommended for any collection.--Melanie Leivers
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An English language learner adjusts to her new home. When Mina, a tan-skinned, dark-haired girl, starts kindergarten at a new school, she is riddled with anxiety (it's implied she and her family are recent immigrants, though Mina's ethnicity, homeland, and native tongue are never mentioned). Her classroom is full of noise and movement, and Mina doesn't understand what anyone is saying. She doesn't get to speak her own language until her mother picks her up at the end of the day. When she's finally able to communicate, she talks and talks. As time passes, Mina and her diverse classmates work around the child's initial lack of English, and Mina tries out words she's learning in English. Mastering the language helps Mina feel like she belongs in her new world--so much so that when a new student joins the class, Mina is the first to welcome him. This tender, lyrical text brings to life moments that many immigrants will recognize, though it is a shade on the optimistic side--Mina's frustration, sadness, and anxiety are a bit glossed over. The illustrations chart Mina's journey to near fluency in English; when the book starts, her classroom is illustrated in mostly gray monotones, but more color is added as the narrative progresses. Her vivid dreams--scenes in blue of a school of fish swimming across the page--are an especially nice touch. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A visually engaging, rose-colored exploration of the immigrant experience. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
