From New York Times bestselling author Bob McKinnon comes a story about seeking inspiration from our past to become our best selves in the future.
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever desperately wanted to fit in? America understands how you feel.
America dreams of adventures, making new friends, and being strong. But America’s first day at a new school turns out to be a nightmare.
Fortunately, America’s new teacher introduces the Welcome Wagon—a cart filled with books about real-life historical figures who also had trouble feeling accepted. When America falls asleep that night, Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Emma Lazarus jump off the pages to share their stories—inspiring America to return to school the next day and make their dreams come true.
While we never see America, Bob McKinnon’s lyrical writing and Thai My Phuong’s unique, sweeping art helps readers see the world through America’s eyes and encourages us all to be as kind as we are brave, because everyone always deserves to feel welcome.
"This needed story celebrates individuality and is a reminder that every child moves at their own their own pace, and that it’s okay to find happiness in solitude. Heartwarming and thought-provoking, this book encourages readers to embrace their unique qualities and appreciate the diversity of the world around them. VERDICT A valuable addition to any library or classroom collection." —School Library Journal
"Casting America as both the new kid at school and this story’s narrator, McKinnon and Phuong roll out a historical welcome wagon. In Phuong’s cool-hued, portrait-forward images, characters emerge from books to encourage the protagonist." —Publishers Weekly
From New York Times bestselling author Bob McKinnon comes a story about seeking inspiration from our past to become our best selves in the future.
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever desperately wanted to fit in? America understands how you feel.
America dreams of adventures, making new friends, and being strong. But America’s first day at a new school turns out to be a nightmare.
Fortunately, America’s new teacher introduces the Welcome Wagon—a cart filled with books about real-life historical figures who also had trouble feeling accepted. When America falls asleep that night, Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Emma Lazarus jump off the pages to share their stories—inspiring America to return to school the next day and make their dreams come true.
While we never see America, Bob McKinnon’s lyrical writing and Thai My Phuong’s unique, sweeping art helps readers see the world through America’s eyes and encourages us all to be as kind as we are brave, because everyone always deserves to feel welcome.
Photos
Praise
"This needed story celebrates individuality and is a reminder that every child moves at their own their own pace, and that it’s okay to find happiness in solitude. Heartwarming and thought-provoking, this book encourages readers to embrace their unique qualities and appreciate the diversity of the world around them. VERDICT A valuable addition to any library or classroom collection." —School Library Journal
"Casting America as both the new kid at school and this story’s narrator, McKinnon and Phuong roll out a historical welcome wagon. In Phuong’s cool-hued, portrait-forward images, characters emerge from books to encourage the protagonist." —Publishers Weekly
