Review: Just Say Welcome!

Just Say Welcome!

by Emily Raij, illustrated by Nathalia Takeyama

Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Claire Freeland

 

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Emily Raij’s story of welcoming immigrants is a straightforward description of one family, with assistance from the community, helping another family. A mother and her two children from Iraq come to stay with Tilly’s Jewish family for a week before moving into their own place. Tilly and her brother pitch in to prepare for the guests. The community helps by bringing clothes collected at a synagogue and a stew from a neighbor. Tilly’s family serves typical Middle Eastern food so the new family will feel more at home. Tilly’s brother and the Iraqi boy find a common interest in soccer. By the end of the week, both families have grown attached to one another. Brief backmatter describes the value of welcoming the stranger.

Nathalia Takeyama’s art is soft and appealing, using a pleasing color palette. The characters are smiling in nearly every drawing. Tilly’s Jewish family appears to be white, but there is diversity of skin color in the friend group as well as in the Iraqi family. The story seems to be placed in a suburban setting.

The basic idea of welcoming newcomers is the overarching universal theme, which will appeal to all who believe in helping immigrants settle in and feel comfortable in their new home. Prior to their arrival, Tilly’s family shares a Shabbat meal, thus establishing that they are Jewish. The aim of the book is to highlight a value that is important to Jews but not particular to Jews. The book offers opportunities for discussion to help all children understand the immigrant experience and the role of community in welcoming newcomers. 

 

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Reviewer Claire Freeland is a Baltimore, Maryland based children's book writer. She has co-authored seven books, published by Magination Press, that guide children and teens in new ways of thinking about feelings and behaviors, and introduce the science of psychology. Her current work focuses on Jewish-themed board and picture books.