The experience of shared culture—food, art, play, friendship, and laughter—is surely a more effective teacher than any language textbook. In these new books, children learn the language of their new country by making snow people, drinking tea, and caring for wildlife … together!

Author and illustrator Young Vo has an ingenious way of expressing language differences in his wonderful book, Gib.ber.ish. It is Dat’s first day riding on a school bus to a new school in a new country, and as his mother says goodbye, she warns him that the words he hears at school will sound like gibberish at first. But more than that, the people and words that surround him are black and white and cartoony and, frankly, rather scary. As Dat tries to understand the confusion that surrounds him, a new friend appears to help him make sense of his new world, which becomes more colorful and less frightening. Word by word, Dat’s new world becomes a brighter and happier place.

Gib.ber.ish by Young Vo (Levine Querido, 2022) Ages 4–8.

Chai! Te! Cha! Cay! Tea! The children in Luli’s child care center all come from different cultures and they have different names for the delicious beverage, but they all speak the language of tea. Luli’s clever plan, formed without saying a word, brings children and teachers from their solitary spots around the classroom to the big round table where a pot of tea is shared, smiles are exchanged, and … what is this? A box of cookies appears, and fun ensues. Drinking tea is a large part of many cultures, and several of their traditions and recipes form the epilogue to this lovely book. The endpapers feature beautiful teacups of many types.

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Hyewon Yum (Holiday House, 2022) Ages 3–6.

A is for Bee turns the traditional alphabet book on its head. In this fascinating book, Ellen Heck uses animal names from 69 different languages to create something completely new. The letter B might initiate the word “bear” in English, but in Mandarin, Tlinglit, and Persian, X is for bear. And in Balinese, Lithuanian, Hausa, and Hindi, B is for monkey. Older children and adults will enjoy these linguistic crossovers, as well as the website where they can hear the words pronounced and the author’s notes on how these transliterations came about. Younger children will delight in searching for hidden letters in Heck’s scratchboard art.

A is for Bee by Ellen Heck (Levine Querido, 2022) All ages.

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Food unites us in so many ways. Amy Wu invites classmate Lin, newly arrived from China, to join family and old friends for a dumpling party. Everyone joins in to make dumplings in many shapes, with various fillings, and they are all delicious. Lin may learn some new traditions but it is Amy Wu who leaves her comfort zone to proclaim a heartfelt welcome to her new friends. In Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome, author Kat Zhang offers some simple ideas for welcoming children who are new to a town or school.

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua (Simon and Schuster, 2022) Ages 3–6.

Donna Jo Napoli’s Words to Make a Friend: A Story in Japanese and English is a quiet, simple tale beautifully illustrated by Naoko Stoop. Cheerful little girls with their pink and yellow stocking caps do not share a language of words, but they have a wonderful time laughing together as they build a snow monster, then enjoy a snack and an origami lesson as the snow falls outside. English and Japanese phrases are tossed around like snowballs as the girls become friends.

Words to Make a Friend: A Story in Japanese and English by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Naoko Stoop (Random House, 2021) Ages 2–5.

Maureen’s family came from Ireland, many years ago. Sami has just arrived in their neighborhood from a Syrian refugee camp. They discover that they have much in common, especially a shared love for the Birds on Wishbone Street. When a female cardinal is injured during a snowstorm, both children rally their resources to care for her until she can return to freedom. Suzanne Del Rizzo’s bright polymer clay illustrations of an intergenerational, multicultural neighborhood are perfect, and include clear instructions for making suet treats and roosting pockets for winter birds.

Birds on Wishbone Street by Suzanne Del Rizzo (Pajama Press, 2021) Ages 4–8.

Isabella has her backpack all ready, but her first day at an American school is cancelled because of a snowstorm that reminds her of A Thousand White Butterflies. What a disappointment! She misses her Papa and friends in Colombia, and now she will have to wait to start her new life. There are tears, but outside her window she spies a girl having fun in the snow. Together they play and plan for tomorrow. This comforting story includes simple information about immigration and a Spanish glossary.

A Thousand White Butterflies by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Gina Maldonado (Charlesbridge, 2021) Ages 3–6.