The 13,000+ books we have placed in Welcoming Libraries across the country all have the same invitation: Read to Welcome. Read to Belong. Each children’s book tells the story of a modern immigrant family or their new generations. As readers, you will not be surprised that these books change us. Reading at any age gives… Read more »
“What do immigrant kids think of the program?” —Curry College Student This was the final question that was asked of Welcoming Library co-founder Kate Cutko and Executive Director Kirsten Cappy. They were speaking to Kathy McDonough‘s Children’s Literature: Gateway to the World class about the founding of I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Welcoming Library…. Read more »
As the country rings with the truth, “Black Lives Matter,” we all must work within our own spheres and communities to manifest that truth. “I was born in Nigeria, a country whose identity is deeply tied to its colonization and oppression by the British. After 20 years of living in America, I know that this… Read more »
The Welcoming Library was hosted by Maine’s LearningWorks for five weeks in the summer of 2018 to serve their summer school programming. When the I’m Your Neighbor team went to pick up the collection on the final day of summer school, an educator recounted this story. She was reading the picture book My Friend Jamal… Read more »
BY Kirsten Cappy Illustration by Rafael López from The Day You Begin What do kids absorb when they hear lies or generalities about immigrants? What does hearing “Venezuelan” paired with “violent gangs” again and again do to children’s perceptions of themselves or their Venezuelan classmates or neighbors? It is hard to find the words to… Read more »