"So what else is new? A young child complains about a recent move. There’s an unfamiliar new pool and trees and a curly-haired boy next door keen to make friends. This lonely grumbler regrets having left behind treasured belongings, except for a beloved, worn-out tricycle that still provides comforting familiarity. When it breaks, Dad can’t fix it, so he purchases a new two-wheeler for the protagonist. After they both apply stickers to it, Dad helps the wary child take it for a spin. At first, this new experience is scary, but going fast is also fun. “Maybe new things aren’t so bad after all?” the child muses. The little one decides to try more new things: swimming in the pool, appreciating the trees’ comforting shade, checking out the new playhouse, and going on adventures with Sam, the child’s new best friend, formerly known as “the boy next door.” This wise, sweet story, translated from Dutch, depicts a situation that will be familiar to many. Young readers will feel reassured to see another child taking those first steps toward navigating potentially unnerving situations with courage and self-confidence (and some encouraging adult backup). The soft, colorful, calming illustrations portray the child and Dad as light-skinned and Sam as brown-skinned. Proof that new things can be wonderful." - Kirkus Reviews
“A young boy laments the home he left behind in this touching Spanish-language picture book that explores change and new experiences. The little boy shares with readers the things they’ve left behind: his cardboard play house and the trees that gave the yard such nice shade. Their new house, new trees, and even their new pool are different and much too big, even scary. The one thing he still has is his old tricycle with his beloved stickers on it, but one day even that breaks. When his Papá buys him a new bicycle, he is hesitant at first. It is new and different, and he misses his old tricycle. But as Papá shows him that he can use new stickers, the boy realizes maybe it isn’t so bad. Slowly, the young boy begins to explore the new home, even making friends with his neighbor. The Spanish text perfectly expresses the feelings of fear and anxiety someone might feel when having to face something new and is adeptly accompanied by illustrations that show the boy’s uncertainty and longing for what was. As the story continues, readers will see the boy slowly try new things, as he understands that while they might be scary, they also might be surprising. VERDICT: This lovely Spanish-language picture book is a great choice for exploring the topic of change and trying new things, and is highly recommended for all Spanish-language collections for children.” – Selenia Paz; School Library Journal
12/02/2023
K-Gr 3—A young boy laments the home he left behind in this touching Spanish-language picture book that explores change and new experiences. The little boy shares with readers the things they've left behind: his cardboard playhouse and the trees that gave the yard such nice shade. Their new house, new trees, and even their new pool are different and much too big, even scary. The one thing he still has is his old tricycle with his beloved stickers on it, but one day even that breaks. When his Papá buys him a new bicycle, he is hesitant at first. It is new and different, and he misses his old tricycle. But as Papá shows him that he can use new stickers, the boy realizes maybe it isn't so bad. Slowly, the young boy begins to explore the new home, even making friends with his neighbor. The Spanish text perfectly expresses the feelings of fear and anxiety someone might feel when having to face something new and is adeptly accompanied by illustrations that show the boy's uncertainty and longing for what was. As the story continues, readers will see the boy slowly try new things, as he understands that while they might be scary, they also might be surprising. VERDICT This lovely Spanish-language picture book is a great choice for exploring the topic of change and trying new things, and is highly recommended for all Spanish-language collections for children.—Selenia Paz
