“Many classrooms had guest readers (parents, teachers, the superintendent).” —Welcoming Library School Ambassador
School Used Guest Readers
Every Class Had Family Who Were Immigrants
“Reading in various classrooms was the best part of the experience for me. I was able to share that students in most every class I visited had family members or close friends who were immigrants. We had some great discussions!” —Welcome Library School Ambassador
Empathy for Refugees Through Story…and Hypnosis
Studies have shown that reading fiction creates empathy. That is the whole basis of I’m Your Neighbor – creating empathy for the immigration experience through stories. Amnesty International took one refugee’s story and shared it directly with the subconscious of handful of long-term citizens. The results are shocking and breathtaking. Brace yourself.
Deep Classroom Discussions on Other Cultures
“The use of the Welcoming Library led to several deep class discussions on other cultures, acceptance of differences and similarities, and learning about the customs of others.” —Welcoming Library School Ambassador
I’m Your Neighbor Welcoming Library
The I’m Your Neighbor Welcoming Library is a portable book collection and display of acclaimed picture books featuring the immigrant, refugee, or “new arrival” experience. This pilot traveling library will be made available to Maine school and public libraries for monthly loan starting in September 2017. Given the national conversation about immigration, the I’m… Read more »
This in an Executive Order: Read 4 Picture Books
I’m Your Neighbor is a website offering children’s immigration stories and books. It is not a site about global or even American politics. But immigration is a deeply political issue in America and across the globe. Is I’m Your Neighbor about to get political? I don’t know. You might need to tell me. This is… Read more »
Dominican American Book Awarded
Congratulations to I’m Your Neighbor co-founder Terry Farish for receiving an Honor from the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children for her picture book Luis Paints the World (Lerner). The award was established to “promote and recognize fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder.”
Collective American Voice: Citizenship Ceremony, Maine
Following is the keynote address by author Maria Testa for the Citizenship Ceremony held at Portland Public Library, Portland, ME on March 10, 2016 It is an extraordinary honor to welcome new Americans to our country. What we are witnessing today is, in fact, a tremendous gift to our country. You have honored all of… Read more »
New Muslim Children’s Book Imprint
I’m You Neighbor it delighted by the announcement of the new Muslim imprint at Simon & Schuster! Salaam Reads is an imprint that aims to introduce readers of all faiths and backgrounds to a wide variety of Muslim children and families, and offer Muslim kids an opportunity to see themselves reflected positively in published works…. Read more »
Yuyi Morales Talks About Being a New Arrival & a Creator
