New In Town

Marta Altés is the award-winning creator of Little Monkey, My Grandpa, I Am An Artist! and My New Home. She loves to tell stories and her love of illustration saw her study for a degree in Graphic Design in Barcelona. Marta moved to the UK to study for an MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University and graduated in 2011. Since then she has seen her books translated into many different languages. My Grandpa won the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honour in the US and I Am An Artist! was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She has also won the Read It Again! Award and the Nottingham Children's Book Award and her first book No! was shortlisted for the Peoples Book Prize and the Waterstones Picture Book Prize. Marta lives in London.

This heartwarming story about feeling different, not fitting in and slowly finding a way to feel at home is a perfect book to explore with all children, particularly those who are about to start school or nursery. With its simple message of kindness and understand, it encourages children have empathy for new people that come into their lives, nurseries, schools and familiar spaces. The inclusive illustrations are beautiful, and there are many details and expressions to pick out and talk about which tell us more about the newcomer to the town. A really lovely book to share.