Tooter Pepperday

Reach for this book when your child is meeting a major life change with total, stubborn resistance. Whether it is a move to a new city or just a transition they did not ask for, Tooter Pepperday provides a hilarious mirror for a child's loudest 'No!' It follows young Tooter as her family moves from the suburbs to a farm. While her siblings embrace the change, Tooter stages a one-girl protest, refusing to even unpack her shoelaces. Jerry Spinelli captures the raw frustration of losing control over one's environment with his signature humor. The story normalizes the anger children feel during a move while gently showing how curiosity eventually overcomes spite. It is an ideal read-aloud for ages 6 to 9, offering a way to laugh at big feelings without dismissing them. Parents will appreciate the realistic sibling dynamics and the patient, albeit tired, portrayal of the parents.