Where I Belong

A Ukrainian girl takes on both a first day of school in a new country and a bear in this picture book for ages 3 to 7 about new experiences, belonging and language.

It's Hanya's first day of school, but she's nervous. As a new immigrant, she has a name from across the ocean, but she lives just up the road — and she doesn't understand most of the words her teachers and classmates are saying.

Hanya wishes she was picking blueberries with her family. The day before, along the road and into the woods they went, searching for those blueberries. Until Tato, her dad, yelled "vedmid!" ("bear!"). In an act of courage, Hanya picked up her picnic blanket and lifted it into the wind — like the wind that carried her family to this country from Ukraine. Bravely, she managed to scare the bear away.

But can she bring that same courage to school? Find out in this lovely dual-narrative picture book from up-and-comers Loretta Garbutt and Yev Haidamaka!