About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major transition, particularly a move, and is reacting with 'doom and gloom' predictions. It is a perfect choice for the youngster who uses their vivid imagination to fuel anxiety about the unknown, turning unfamiliar territory into a land of monsters and myths. This classic story follows a boy from New York City who is moving to the West. He is certain he will have to live among Gila monsters and outlaws, only to find a boy at the airport who is moving East and fears he will have to dodge taxis and live in a sub-basement. Through humor and hyperbole, the book explores how our fears are often based on silly misconceptions. It is a gentle, funny way to help children ages 4 to 8 realize that while change is scary, the reality is rarely as bad as what they have imagined.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the stress of relocation and the loss of the familiar. The approach is secular and highly metaphorical through the use of the boy's hyperbolic fears. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on the discovery that the new environment is quite normal.
