Our World Is a Family: Our Community Can Change the World

Learn how to welcome new neighbors into your community, particularly when they might be far from home, in this uplifting and diverse picture book that champions human connection and inclusivity. After all, the world is everyone's home and we're one big family!

When we see someone new in our neighborhood, how can we help them feel safe and loved and important?

How can we tell them, you're not alone?

There are so many ways!

From the creators of Miry's List, the nonprofit that has helped thousands of refugees, Our World is a Family is an all-ages picture book exploring the complicated topic of human migration in a gentle, loving, and affirming way. It lightly touches on the reason people might leave their homes, like climate change or lack of safety, and inspires children to welcome their new neighbors into their communities with love.

Miry Whitehill is founder and executive director of the award-winning nonprofit organization Miry's List, which supports families resettling in the United States as refugees, from countries including Syria and Afghanistan. She is mom to Reuben and Sabo, whose curiosity and unending questions led to the writing of this book. To learn more about the needs of new arrival families and how your family can help, visit miryslist.org.

Jennifer Jackson has always been a storyteller. She began her career in live theater as a writer, director, and choreographer before transitioning to the page with her first picture book, The Punkydoos Take the Stage. Now, she is thrilled to be sharing a story that's so close to her heart. Jennifer lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Visit her online at jenniferjacksonbooks.com.

Nomar Perez is a Puerto Rican-born illustrator who received Pura Belpré honors in both the illustrator and author categories for his debut book, De aquí como el coquí. He immigrated to the United States at age ten and studied painting and computer animation at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He has since worked as an illustrator inspired by the amazing array of colors from his homeland as well as all types of media from his work as a designer for over eighteen years.