Description: Book 38 in the Aiseum Picture Book Series for Young Readers. This picture book depicts the process of becoming friends with an unusual new classmate. With lively, cheerful illustrations, it brightly and warmly portrays the story that can unfold when a group of children called 'us' welcomes someone new and different. Through this book, children learn how to communicate with others with an open heart. The story begins when a boy named Marshall Armstrong transfers into the narrator's class. True to his unusual name, Marshall seems very different. He doesn't play sports, and he doesn't even watch television. Eventually, the narrator comes up with the wild theory that Marshall must be from outer space. But after having a wonderful time at Marshall's birthday party, the narrator discovers that Marshall is truly a good friend after all. A cheerful picture book about becoming friends with an unusual new classmate What would it be like if a strange new kid suddenly joined your class one day? It would probably take some time before you could accept that unfamiliar child as a friend. You might feel a little wary at first, and if that child behaves even slightly differently, you might quickly form the biased thought, 'That kid must be weird' — even though, in truth, they might not be so different from you at all. But just think how frightening and lonely it must be for the new student, who has no friends yet and must adjust all alone to an unfamiliar environment. This book tells the story of welcoming a new friend into the group we call 'us.' It begins when a classmate named Marshall Armstrong transfers into the narrator's class. True to his unusual name, Marshall really does seem different — his appearance is a bit unusual, the food he eats seems different from what everyone else eats, he doesn't play sports, and he doesn't even watch television. He seems to have absolutely nothing in common with the narrator or the rest of the class. Eventually, the narrator even comes up with the wild theory that Marshall must be from outer space — after all, his name sounds a bit like 'Neil Armstrong.' But after having a wonderful time at Marshall's birthday party, the narrator realizes that Marshall is truly a great friend — someone who isn't so different from anyone else after all. What would have happened if the narrator had kept refusing to get along with Marshall until the end? The narrator might never have discovered what a wonderful person Marshall is, or how good a friend he could become. When we hold onto prejudice and push someone away, we lose the chance to get to know them — and the chance to become friends. Some time later, when a new student named Elizabeth transfers in, the narrator volunteers to sit with Marshall in the front row to help Elizabeth settle into the class comfortably. Thanks to Marshall, the narrator has learned to welcome new friends with an open heart. 'A New Friend Transferred to Our Class' uses lively, cheerful illustrations to brightly portray the story that can unfold when a group called 'us' welcomes someone unfamiliar. We hope this book helps children learn to communicate with others with open hearts. "Marshall Armstrong must definitely be from outer space." A boy named Marshall Armstrong transferred to our school. Marshall sat next to me, and everything about him was different from me. His ears looked like seashells. His hairstyle reminded me of a bumpy country road. The freckles on his nose looked like birdseed, and his lips looked just like our pet tropical fish, Ninja. And his eyes always looked straight ahead, never moving. Marshall eats special food. It's all wrapped in foil, so we called it space food. Marshall can't take part in sports day — the doctor told him to sit by the equipment and read a book instead. And he doesn't even have a television at home. Instead, he loves reading the newspaper. His dad told him that reading the newspaper builds the power of thinking. No matter how you looked at it, Marshall Armstrong just didn't seem to fit in at our school. Not even a little bit! But then Marshall invited our whole class to his birthday party. Mom said I had to go to the party, and that I needed to bring a present too. I figured I'd probably have to sit next to Marshall the whole time at the party — just like at school.