Michelle Pereira is an illustrator who spent her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and now lives in Melbourne, Australia. She graduated from Monash University with a bachelor of communication design. She has worked with a range of clients such as Penguin UK, Netflix, the New York Times and Marie Claire.

**STARRED REVIEW**
"With gentle compassion and tender wisdom, this Australian import portrays the challenges and joys of starting over in a new setting, juxtaposing fraught school days with the cozy warmth of evenings at home. Pereira's block print style digital artwork brings Zimdalamashkermishkada's name to vibrant life. When he begins to teach Elly his name, the unruly shapes begin to take the form of a bird, adding more detail with each syllable until it soars gloriously across a two-page spread in joyous, fiery tones when Elly says the whole thing. This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging."

"The orange cord turns into a bird, soaring around the new friends as the story finds a satisfying crescendo. This story shines in its gentle insistence that, with time and practice, we can learn new things--and that there's nothing like a trusty friend. The art and language are lovely, with details to note with repeated readings."--Booklist

"For intercultural sharing, for awakening ­compassion, for tending empathy, or the SEL shelves, this story has many uses and should not be missed."--School Library Journal