Someone New

by Anne Sibley O'Brien

For the child noticing a new classmate who seems different, this story helps bridge the gap between being a stranger and becoming a friend.

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About This Book

Reach for this book when your child expresses curiosity, hesitation, or confusion about a new classmate who speaks a different language or comes from a different background. Someone New is a gentle, multi-perspective story that follows three different children as they navigate the arrival of three new peers from other countries. It beautifully illustrates the transition from observing differences to finding common ground through shared interests like art, soccer, and storytelling. This book is a vital tool for teaching empathy and showing children how to take the first step in making a stranger feel like a friend. It is perfectly pitched for the preschool and early elementary years, offering a roadmap for kindness in a diverse world.

Empathy & Kindness New School School Life Loneliness & Belonging Making Friends Friendship & Social Friendship & Loyalty Immigration

What Parents Should Know

Cultural Content GapMild

Characters face language barriers and initial social isolation.

Sensitive Topics

The book deals with immigration and cultural differences in a secular, direct, and highly realistic way. It does not dwell on the trauma of displacement but focuses on the social reality of the classroom. The resolution is hopeful and empowering for both the 'old' and 'new' students.