About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels the pressure to invent stories or exaggerate their accomplishments just to fit in with a new group. It is a gentle, humorous look at the anxiety that comes with moving to a new neighborhood and the common mistake of 'selling' oneself too hard. Noah's journey through a series of tall tales shows children that the weight of a lie is much heavier than the risk of being ordinary. Johanna Hurwitz expertly captures the inner monologue of an elementary-aged child navigating social hierarchy. Through Noah's relatable blunders, parents can open a dialogue about honesty, integrity, and why true friends value who we are rather than what we have or what we can do. It is an ideal bridge for kids moving from early readers into more complex chapter books.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with social anxiety and the ethics of lying. The approach is direct and secular. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on the relief of coming clean rather than a magical erasure of consequences.
