About the Holiday

Starting Kindergarten is a major milestone in any child’s life and ushers in exciting growth in knowledge, friendships, and experiences. But the first step is getting to know their classmates, teachers, school staff, and bus drivers. And the first step to that is saying hello! Today’s book shares some fun insight on this important skill that ‘s unique to each child!

Thanks to Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Say Hello Like an Armadillo: And Other Animal Greetings from Around the World

Written by Zewlan Moor | Illustrated by Karen Obuhanych

Walking into a room full of new people to meet can be a bit intimidating. Kids may wonder how they can begin to make friends in a new school, classroom, or activity group. In her original picture book, Zewlan Moor invites children to take inspiration from the animal kingdom in greeting others while showing their unique personality.

Through Moor’s vivacious rhymes, kids meet a group of very different animals who all have one thing in common—an extraordinary way to greet others. From beluga whales that shake a fin and make clicking sounds to gorillas that express themselves with their whole body to fiddler crabs that really get into the rhythm of saying hello, all of the animals here are sure to delight children. As they giggle at some of these creatures’ antics or find comfort in other’s calmer demeanors, kids will discover that being themselves while meeting people is the perfect way to begin new friendships.

Following the story, readers learn about eight creatures and the fascinating ways they meet and greet others, send messages, and react to feeling afraid or shy.

In her joyful mixed-media illustrations, Karen Obuhanych follows a group of kids as they enter their classroom (some more reluctantly than others), meet each other and their teacher for the first time, and end the day as happy, cohesive friends. In between, readers discover that each child has their own way of presenting themself and interacting with others as they join an animal or other creature that matches their personality and communication style. Obuhanych’s bright, bold images will charm and amuse children while boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Fun, reassuring, and enlightening, Say Hello Like an Armadillo is an uplifting and jaunty read-aloud. Dynamic sound and action words accompanying each verse will inspire participation, making this a fantastic addition to circle time or story time in any classroom or library. The book is highly recommended for any children’s book collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Nosy Crow, 2026 | ISBN 979-8887771168

About the Author

Zewlan Moor (pronounced “SHOO-len”) is a children’s author, medical doctor, and bibliotherapist. To keep up, she writes while wearing her surgical scrubs, in between dashing off to the hospital. Despite living on the Gold Coast of Australia, she prefers books and boardgames to the beach. Unbelievable! She can say hello―and not much else―in her heritage languages of Tagalog, Spanish, Mandarin, and German. But her favorite way to say hello is the triple scoop! Visit her at zewlanmoor.com.

About the Illustrator

Karen Obuhanych is an author-illustrator living on the Big Island of Hawaii with her family, including two crazy cats, a spotted pig dog, various fish, and one glowing axolotl. She wrote and illustrated This Little Kitty and This Little Kitty in the Garden and has illustrated several books for young readers. Inspired by Hawaii and the simple joys in life, you will often find Karen drawing or cutting bits of paper to capture the everyday moments that make us smile. Karen’s favorite way to say hello is “Smile, smile . . . WAVE!” Visit her at ktoart.com.

Get Ready for Kindergarten Month Activity

Say Hello like an Armadillo Discussion Questions Postcard

Educators and parents can engage their kids in talking about how to greet new friends with the thoughtful and conversation-prompting questions on this Say Hello like an Armadillo Postcard from Nosy Crow found on Zewlan Moor’s website!

You can buy Say Hello Like an Armadillo and Other Animal Greetings from Around the World from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review