PRAISE

★ “A creative, child-centered picture book about finding a new home after immigration. Ebulliently illustrated.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★ “It’s hard to find a more joyful take on the first day of school in a new country than that found in Kheiriyeh’s new work.”—School Library Journal (starred review) 

★ “Exuberant...A warm and welcoming story about a group of children who may have come from other places but have found a classroom that is ‘shaped like a home.’”—Booklist (starred review)

“A joyful, wildly imaginative book”— The New York Times

“Buoyant, vibrantly illustrated story, Kheiriyeh centers on an Iranian girl’s first day of school in America. A road map for curiosity and learning.”—Publishers Weekly

“True to her signature vibrant and ebullient style, award-winning author and illustrator, Rashin Khieriyeh shares the story about her first day of school in a new country and discovering the true shape of home.”—Poets.org

“It’s normal to be nervous about your first day of school, but especially so when you're new, and even more when you’re an immigrant! Luckily, this classroom celebrates its kids from all different places in playful and bright illustrations, with a warm and welcoming story.” —Tildy Lutts, Belmont Books

“Starting anything new always brings a bit of nervousness, but being able to find familiar things amongst the new allows us to replace that nervousness with a sense of belonging—a sense of home. This cheerful tale with bright chalk drawings follows Rashin as she begins her first day of school in America after moving from Iran… When we find the familiar in the unfamiliar, we become more at home with what we see, and by the end of the day Rashin finds that her ‘classroom is shaped like a home.’ … A fun reminder to look for things that bring us together and to have fun with the world around us.”— Jolene C. DeFranco, Librarian, Lexington Creek Elementary, Missouri City, Texas, Recommended