As someone who was the new kid nearly every school year growing up, I have deep empathy for children going through this unique — and often painful — rite of passage. I remember wondering if I would make friends, if the teachers would like me, if I would get lost (I always got lost). But while starting at a new school may cause anxiety, it can also, as these 10 stories illustrate, create opportunities for growth, resilience and an increased capacity for compassion. And despite all the awkwardness and jitters, the benefit of being the new kid is that it always makes for a good story.
Ages 4-6
Ruby the Copycat
Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann
Ruby is the new kid in school and, in an attempt to fit in, she begins copying everything that Angela does. When Angela wears a red bow in her hair, Ruby has one in her hair right after lunch. When Angela writes a poem about a cat, Ruby writes one that is oddly similar. Thankfully, their teacher, Miss Hart, is wise to the situation and helps Ruby recognize that the best way to be is to be yourself.
Each Kindness
By Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by E.B. Lewis
In this beautiful picture book, the unnamed narrator watches as Maya, a new kid, enters her class. Maya wears old, ragged clothes; brings unfamiliar foods for lunch; and plays odd, old-fashioned games while the class whispers and laughs at her behind her back. Months later, when Maya doesn’t show up for school, their teacher, Ms. Albert, tells them that Maya has moved away. Then Ms. Albert drops a small stone in a bowl of water, explaining to the students that “each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, in the world.”
The Bright Side
Written and illustrated by Chad Otis
Based on the author’s own childhood experiences with housing insecurity, this story depicts a young boy who lives on a school bus. His father always tells him to “look on the bright side,” and that is exactly what the boy does. He enjoys eating “pizza toast” (ketchup on bread), taking showers in the great outdoors and having “family snuggle time” when the temperatures drop. But when he starts going to a new school, he discovers that school rules are very different from bus rules, and he’ll need to work harder than ever to find the bright side.
School’s First Day of School
By Adam Rex; illustrated by Christian Robinson
After a summer of construction, it’s time for Frederick Douglass Elementary to welcome students on the first day of school. But School is not so sure he’s ready. Accustomed to quiet hallways and having only the janitor for company, he is shocked when all of a sudden there are children everywhere: climbing on his jungle gym, opening and closing the doors and making so much noise. But after a freckled girl makes a picture of him, he finishes the day thinking that maybe being a school isn’t so bad after all.
Ages 6-10
Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test
By Christina Soontornvat; illustrated by Kevin Hong
Plum is shocked when she receives a letter inviting her to join the next novice class at the Guardian Academy on Lotus Island. She is happy spending her days in her grandparents’ orchard, and the thought of living and studying at a magical school is terrifying. After a rocky beginning, Plum begins to make friends and adjust to the school’s rhythms. But when her classmates start transforming into incredible animals — while Plum remains unable to magic up a single feather — she must find a way to tap into her powers or be forced to leave the school forever.
Brand New School, Brave New Ruby
By Derrick Barnes; illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Ruby Booker is so ready to start third grade at her new school. The only problem? Her three older brothers are already known as the coolest students at Hope Road Academy, and everyone has high expectations for her. But despite her nerves, Ruby puts on a brave face: With her pet iguana, Lady Love, at her side, she is up for any challenge.
Ages 8-12
Falling Short
By Ernesto Cisneros
Two best friends, Isaac and Marco, begin middle school with very different goals. Isaac, a star basketball player, wants to get good grades so his parents won’t have anything to fight about. Marco, a straight-A student, is determined to make the basketball team and finally impress his father. While the year doesn’t exactly go to plan, the two friends continue to offer each other unwavering support, even when it means following a different path from what is expected of them.
Hummingbird
By Natalie Lloyd
Olive, a preteen country music enthusiast, has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease), and has been home-schooled for her entire life. Desperate to attend a traditional school and finally make friends, she convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Middle School. The first day is a disaster, until Olive hears about a magical wish-granting hummingbird. Could this be the answer to all of her problems?
The Boy at the Back of the Class
By Onjali Q. Raúf
When Ahmet, a quiet and withdrawn new student, arrives in Mrs. Khan’s fourth grade class, the narrator tries to befriend the new kid with candy, smiles and even friendly winks, but nothing seems to work. As time goes by, the class learns that Ahmet is a Syrian refugee who was separated from his family on his journey to London. What comes next is a beautiful and daring plan hatched by the class to reunite Ahmet with his loved ones.
Isabel in Bloom
By Mae Respicio
After spending her life in the Philippines with her grandparents, surrounded by her garden, 12-year-old Isabel boards a plane to San Francisco, where her mother has been working hard to send money back home for the last five years. Now that they’ve been reunited, Isabel not only has to reacquaint herself with her mom; she also has to start a new school and learn how to live in a city. Told in verse, this sweet and heartfelt novel explores how bumpy beginnings can offer chances for new growth.
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