Franklin's New Friend

Reach for this book when your child is feeling intimidated by a new environment or expressing apprehension about a classmate who seems different from them. It is a gentle tool for navigating the common childhood fear of the unknown, specifically when a child is overwhelmed by someone's physical size or different background. Franklin the turtle is nervous when a large Moose family moves to town. He worries that Moose is too big and scary to play with, but through a shared activity, he discovers that beneath the intimidating exterior is a friend who is just as nervous as he is. The story beautifully captures the social anxiety of starting school or meeting new neighbors, making it an ideal choice for preschoolers and early elementary students. It emphasizes that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to say hello anyway.