No English by Jacqueline Jules.

Blanca is a new girl in school who doesn’t speak English, but it doesn’t seem fair to Diane that she is allowed to draw pictures in class instead of doing spelling like the rest of the class.  Diane struggles to try to befriend Blanca, but time after time there are misunderstandings due to their different languages.  It is not until Diane and Blanca start to communicate via pictures that they manage to become friends.  They don’t do this at the best time though and the substitute teacher sends them to the office for drawing during spelling.  But the principal understands the situation and they find themselves being cautioned about drawing during class but also honored for making new friends.

The complexity of this story was a surprising find in a picture book.  The fact that Diane had to work so hard to become friends was an important feature of the book.  Their differences are not easy to overcome and the honesty about this is refreshing and vital.  The illustrations help to portray the emotions involved in each encounter between the girls and also show a diversity in the overall classroom.

Recommended for libraries and schools to aid in reaching across language barriers.  The English-speaking students will get the most out of it, but the English-learners will reap the benefits.  This could be used to start class discussions about diversity and could lead to discussions on all sorts of diversity within the school and community.  Always a good discussion to have!