Cover Image: The Day We Left

The Day We Left

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Member Reviews

A delightful children's book that resonates with readers of all ages. The story takes us on a journey filled with emotions as the siblings leave their island farm behind and enter a world of new possibilities. The colorful illustrations vividly bring the Caribbean Island to life, captivating young readers and immersing them in the adventure. What I appreciate most about this book is its ability to teach valuable lessons about change, resilience, and the beauty of embracing diverse cultures. Through the siblings' experiences, children are encouraged to embrace new places, meet new people, and open their hearts and minds to the world around them.

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A heartwarming children's book that captures the essence of family, change, and the excitement of exploring new places. Through its captivating storyline and vibrant illustrations, young readers are invited to join the siblings as they bid farewell to their island home and embark on an adventure in a big city. The book beautifully weaves together themes of resilience, curiosity, and embracing diversity, providing children aged 5 and up with valuable life lessons in an engaging and accessible way.

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In The Day We Left, the author tells her family’s story of leaving their beloved hometown to make a new life in America.

I think this book could be useful and helpful to children who are experiencing similar life events, and are nervous about what the future holds. This book can show them that in the end, though their new environment will not be the same as their old home, they can learn to appreciate it in different ways.

I do wish there was more focus on the “good” of their adventure, but I understand that this journey was bittersweet for the author, and I think she did a good job explaining what made the move so difficult.

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Read Around the World: <b>Grenada</b>

This is a lovely little book about having to leave all you know and love and move to someplace that is completely different than all you have ever known. As someone who moved quite a bit in my childhood and teen years, this book would have been so helpful to have, even though the circumstances were completely different. If you know littles that have to move or have moved, this book may help them with this transition.

Filled with interesting and colorful illustrations that really add to the overall feel of the story, this was a really delightful read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Gay-Warrington, Maria Waheed Mughal - Illustrator for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Day We Left is a lovely story about a young family that trades their life on a farm for the frenetic pace of New York City, by moving from a Caribbean Island to live as immigrants in America.

When their parents decide to go in search of a better life, the author and her siblings experience a sea-change in their lifestyles. In America, everything is new to them!

And while they do miss their grandparents and nature in their country of origin, they find many things to enjoy in their new home too. This is really a love story about lost homelands and new homes, and a joyous celebration of multiculturalism. The colourful illustrations will appeal to young readers and give a boost to the pleasure of reading this book.

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This book is beautifully written. I have had many students over the years who could relate to this experience of being sad to leave a homeland and uncertain about moving to a new country. I think it is good to show the emotions experienced during this process and this book could be a help in processing for newcomers. I will definitely be adding this book to my classroom.

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Thank you to Net Galley for a free e-copy of “The Day We Left”by Donna Gay Warrington in exchange for a honest review.This book is perfect for young readers who are moving or who have recently moved.The author grew up on a small Caribbean island where she lived with her parents, siblings and her grandparents where she was settled and loved.Her parents decide to move to New York in search of a better life. The author and her siblings travel by themselves to reunite with their parents in New York where life could not be more different. The author misses her grandparents very much but she is open to new adventures and a new life in her new country.Very well written with beautiful illustrations!

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