All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman was published in 2018, and I'll bet this will be used in many classrooms as a read aloud. 

The illustrations by Kaufman were based on her daughters school that celebrates diversity. She created a poster to use at their school and other schools. This poster is on the back of the dust jacket. When Penfold saw this poster, she was inspired to write the words to this book. 

I love the message of inclusion in this story. Thanks for recommending it to me, Michelle. 

"Pencils sharpened in their case. 
Bells are ringing, let's make haste. 
School's beginning, dreams to chase.
All are welcome here."

"No matter how you start your day.
What you wear when you play.
Or if you come from far away.
All are welcome here."

"In our classroom safe and sound.
Fears are lost and hope is found.
Raise your hand, we'll go around.
All are welcome here."

The story covers a school day and life outside the school where all are welcome.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.