The New Girl... and Me

All 3 of my daughters loved this book - even the 10 year old who is so over picture books. That's cause the illustrations are adorable and the story is completely relatable to everyone. But it is my 5 year old who adores this book the most. She laughed herself silly over it and hugged it like a teddy bear for 2 weeks. She was even sleeping with the book, which I found strange as it is a hardback. But I think the reason for such love is that she found the characters absolutely real to her. What more can a parent ask for in a book?

Remember what it was like to be the new kid? After reading this book, you will -- and your kids will love it! This author touchingly captures the uncertainty and excitement of being new in class. It's a story about a friendship between two young girls, one attending school for the first time. When asked what her name is, the new kid answers, "I have an iguana." Though the two girls are shy and uncertain, they eventually find a way to bond over this pet iguana named "Igabelle." The expressive illustrations are beautiful and perfectly match the sometimes comic, always touching prose. I heard about this book after a friend highly recommended it. I bought one copy, read it, and then immediately bought several more to give as gifts. This is destined to be one of the classic childrens' books!