The Way We Say Hello

by Andrea Denish, BlueBean (Illustrator)

Overview

From author Andrea Denish and illustrator BlueBean comes a touching story about new siblings, greetings, languages, and love.

A young child searches for the best way to welcome a new baby to their family as they ask, "A special day. A special place. How will you greet a special face?" With rhyming text, heartwarming art, and educational facts about cultures and customs around the world, The Way We Say Hello takes you as far as Tibet and as near as your front yard as you learn greeting after greeting.

Along the way, you'll also discover how to welcome the world into your heart in different languages, gestures, and places. You can say "namaste," "howdy," or "annyeong." You can use traditional greetings like the Māori hongi or European cheek kisses. You can use sign language to greet those who are hard of hearing, or send a card to someone far away.

Perfect for new big siblings, baby showers, and kids curious about different cultures and languages. There are so many ways to greet someone new, no matter where they're from or what language they speak—so how will YOU say hello?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951784249
Publisher:	Starry Forest Books
Publication date:	02/07/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,018,674
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Author Andrea Denish is a librarian at the local library, the Abington Free Library in Pennsylvania. 


Illustrator BlueBean frequents nearby Kinokuniya locations in Malaysia. 

Editorial Reviews

"The rhyming text pulls readers in, and the colorful illustrations showing an accessible range of body types, skin colors, costume, and settings help children to visualize their international neighbors. This book is perfect for exploring global cultures and can serve as the script for a whole classroom presentation." — School Library Journal




"…a wonderful introduction to international customs and languages and a perfect book for exploring ways to welcome a new family member.” — The Picture Book Buzz



"This book is at once a new baby story and a glimpse into how people greet each other all over the world. Young readers can practice saying hello to each other the way people do in Japan, Tibet, or Guatapé. BlueBean’s art, in soft pastels, is warm and inviting, a perfect complement to this peek at many cultures and languages as well as the arrival of the new baby. And in the end, you’re sure to find just the right way to say hello!” — Perfect Picture Book Friday

From the Publisher

04/01/2023

PreS-K—A little girl wonders how she will say hello to her new baby sibling when he or she arrives. It turns out there are numerous and different ways to greet a newcomer, and she's looking for something very special. This charming picture book offers young readers plenty of options, from cultural customs (bowing, tipping one's hat), to silent hellos (a wave or a nod), to hellos in different languages (bonjour, guten tag, salut). Even the custom of the French kissing cheeks more than once! The rhyming text pulls readers in, and the colorful illustrations showing an accessible range of body types, skin colors, costume, and settings help children to visualize their international neighbors. This book is perfect for exploring global cultures and can serve as the script for a whole classroom presentation. Initially, the protagonist wonders how to say hello to her new brother or sister, but by the end of the book she realizes a homemade Welcome poster will do the trick. VERDICT This book will come in handy in children's libraries everywhere, with back matter that adds further information about the most basic of greetings: Hello.—Joan Kindig

School Library Journal