All are Welcome

A warm, welcoming picture book that celebrates diversity and gives encouragement and support to all kids.

Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs, and yarmulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other's traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

All Are Welcome lets young children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school.

A graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Alexandra Penfold began her career in publishing as a children’s book publicist at Simon & Schuster where she worked on media campaigns that appeared in USA Today, Newsweek, US News and World Report, and NPR’s All Things Considered. For eight years she served as an editor at Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster working on award-winning books for young readers of all ages. She is currently a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary representing children book authors and illustrators as well as select adult projects.

Suzanne Kaufman is an author, illustrator, animator and lover of school potlucks.  She is the author-illustrator of Confiscated and I Love Monkey.  Her previously illustration work includes books: All Are Welcome, 100 Bugs, Naughty Claudine Christmas, and Samanthasaurus Rex.  She has won portfolio honors award at Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference in NYC and the Summer Conference Mentorship.

Over the years, she’s done everything from animating special effects for Universal and Discovery, to animating award-winning video games. Before moving into children’s book publishing she was the Animation Lead at Sucker Punch Productions for Sly Cooper trilogy of games that were awarded the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences “Innovation in Art Direction”, “Innovation in Animation” and “Children’s Title of the Year”.   She has lectured and taught illustration an animation around the US, England and Japan.

"Penfold and Kaufman have outdone themselves in delivering a vital message in today's political climate."--Kirkus, Starred review

"A lively, timely picture book."--Booklist

“This is a must-read for pre-school and elementary classrooms everywhere. An important book that celebrates diversity and inclusion in a beautiful, age-appropriate way.” – Trudy Ludwig, author of The Invisible Boy and Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!

"A great read-aloud selection to start the year and revisit time and again." —School Library Journal