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All Are Welcome
Last updated Sunday, April 6, 2025
Author: Alexandra Penfold
Illustrator: Suzanne Kaufman
Date of Publication: 2018
ISBN: 0525579648
Grade Level: 1st (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Apr. 2025
Synopsis:
In our classroom safe and sound.
Fears are lost and hope is found.
Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated.
Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
| Note to readers: |
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This story explains how wonderful and important it is to be surrounded by diversity. You could ask the kids if their families came from another place, but don’t push if they are hesitant to discuss that, as they may be having some difficult conversations at home about people asking where they’re from.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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We know that everyone is unique. Can you think of ways that people are different? (race, religion, abilities, family structure …)
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Do you know anyone who was born in a different country? Do they speak another language … eat different food … celebrate different holidays?
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What do you think it means to be “welcome”? Why is it important to feel that way at school?
Vocabulary
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Make haste - hurry
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Stories from the heart - what’s important about an individual person’s history
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A spread - a lot of food with a lot of variety
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community - the people who share a neighborhood or school
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diversity - when there are all different types of people
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adversity - challenges to overcome
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Do you think the school is more interesting when there are many different types of people?
What would it be like if everyone were exactly the same?
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Notice that everyone has a different lunch. What’s your favorite food? Have you tried to
taste something new and different?
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Does this story ever show someone being left out? Why is it important to include everyone?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22. Make an Earth Day poster or flyer.
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Easter Sunday is April 20. Make an Easter card for someone.
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| Special activities: |
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Go through the pages again and spend time with each illustration. Kids like noticing details,
and every page has lots of them! Especially study the pullout posters at the end: Who do
they recognize from other pages? What are some ways that the people are the same and
how are they different? What science project would they like to learn more about? Notice
the many different types of families.
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The final pages show flags from all over the world. How many can the kids (or you)
identify?
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Learn to say hello/goodbye/please/thank-you in different languages.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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