Hello,
and
welcome...
My name's
Deborah
Kerbel
I'm a
children's
author
Next Door
ISBN-13: 978-1525306587
Illustrated by Isaac Liang
Published by Kids Can Press
*2024 CCBC 'Best Books for Kids and Teens' Selection*
*Ibby Canada Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2025 Selection*
*A Toronto Public Library's 'First and Best 2023' Selection*
*2023 Youth Services Book Review STAR*
*A School Library Journal 'Recommended' Title*
"⭐️ Wonderful...very well done. Excellent."
-Youth Services Book Review STARRED Review
"The vibrant and appealing illustrations, along with the uplifting message that we are not so different after all, make Next Door a worthy purchase for home collections and school and public libraries. 5/5 stars - Highly Recommended."
"A great picture book for helping children develop their visual literacy skills and their empathy and acceptance for those who communicate differently."
"Vibrant, digitally rendered artwork enables readers to follow the narrative with ease. No words required! Recommended."
-Canadian Children's Book News
"A timeless story of kindness, community, and connection. A wordless wonder."
-Olivia the Librarian
"A wonderful demonstration of the universality of friendship, this is a first-choice selection for school and public libraries that value diversity and representation."
-Children's Literature
"Next Door highlights the joy in appreciating simple pleasures found in our everyday world, and the value in finding positive ways to overcome differences and connect with others."
"This book is genius!"
A boy has some unexpected encounters in his neighborhood in this wordless book about celebrating differences and building bridges.
In this wordless picture book, a Deaf boy and his mother enjoy a walk through their community. Together, they greet their neighbors, stop by the playground, spy a bird's nest in a tree and buy cookies at the grocery store. Later, they visit their new neighbors, a woman and her daughter, who have only recently immigrated from another country. Although the girl is shy, and the two kids speak different languages - American Sign Language (ASL) and Arabic - they find a way to communicate and become fast friends.
This sweet story by critically acclaimed author Deborah Kerbel explores the art of appreciating the world and the people around us and finding points of connection. Deaf illustrator Isaac Liang lends his lived experience to the visual story, choosing details and perspectives that reveal the world as it's experienced by the boy. At the heart of the story is a timely message about breaking down barriers and finding common ground, no matter our differences. Wordless picture books engage children's attention to detail as they follow the narrative of the story in the pictures, building their visual literacy and critical thinking skills. This book has curriculum connections to social studies lessons on community building and immigration, as well as to the character education values of empathy and kindness. It also models the practice of welcoming newcomers to our communities. A few ASL signs are demonstrated and translated within the story.
Order your copy at any of these links:
NOW
AVAILABLE