Booklist “Using the pretense of introducing a third-grade class to the home country of a new student, this title in the Meet Our New Student From… series presents an easily-readable account that conveys basic information on the geography, history, and culture of the student's home country, Haiti. Photographs, maps, brief fact inserts, and in-text pronunciation of unfamiliar words provide a simple yet well rounded view of Haiti and its people. Aside from the usual back matter of a source list, glossary, and further reading suggestions, this book also includes a recipe and craft activity to further enhance the multicultural impact. This title is recommended for students who may be welcoming such a new student into their own classroom, or as a complement to other country series books used for general cultural education.”
--Booklist, October 2008 School Library Journal “The pick of this season’s litter. Each of these volumes opens with a fictionalized classroom scene in which a teacher invites students to learn about a new classmate’s homeland. The country’s history, geography, and culture are then laid out in basic detail. Along with such customary topics as local holidays and cuisine, readers will find references to, for instance, civil strife in Nigeria, Haiti’s persistent poverty, and renowned local writers and celebrities. According to the books, all of the authors except Orr have visited or spent extensive time in these countries. Though only Torres includes a personal anecdote, the narratives generally convey a lively sense of each land’s distinctive past, present, and people. There are some bobbles, such as a caption in Great Britain in which cricket is confused with croquet and, in Israel, a “Fun Fact” is overlaid on a page discussing terrorism. In the final chapter of each book, the newcomer is warmly welcomed–after which a recipe, a craft, and an extensive (for this level) array of print and Web resources round out the multiple-purpose presentation.”
--School Library Journal, November 2008