The New Kid Welcome/Welcome the New Kid

By: Suzanne Slade

Narrated by: Melinda Sewak

This clever and thought-provoking story demonstrates that there’s more than one way to think about someone who might seem “different” at first glance.

It isn’t
easy to say hi to someone new,
is it?

Told from the perspective of a student, The New Kid Welcome (or Welcome the New Kid when flipped) presents listeners with two versions of what happens when a "new kid" joins the protagonist's school. 

In the first half of the book, the student tells us that they don’t want to be nice to the new kid or welcome them into their group simply because they seem different. In the second half, the same lines of the story are placed in reverse order. When heard this way, the student encourages us to say hello to someone new, saying they will share their table and snacks.
 
With a simple flip of the story, feelings of intolerance give way to those of inclusion and kindness. Precise, thoughtful text create a perfect tool for promoting acceptance and a kinder world.
 
After all...
 
It is
easy to say hi to someone new,
isn’t it?