(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lian Cho. The simple act of welcoming friends and neighbors takes the spotlight in this heartening picture book. Donovan's feather-light rhyming couplets trail over and through each watercolor and colored-pencil illustration, her words ("Dear neighbor, come in. // No stranger dwells here; I greet you as kin") a gentle incantation. Cho's vibrant illustrations--most featuring delicious-looking family meals that span countries and cultures--alternate perspectives playfully; one image, for example, closes in on a crowded family table, and the next pans out to a double-page spread showing backlit windows in a sunset skyline. Inviting scenes are peppered with hand-lettered welcomes in different languages along with a pronunciation guide. Source notes and further reading suggestions make this an informative, inviting read.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald