About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, such as moving to a new home or starting at a new school, and is struggling with feelings of displacement. The story follows young Bram and his family as they travel from their familiar, cozy brick house in Holland to the bustling, unfamiliar streets of New York City. It explores the heavy emotions of leaving behind everything known while highlighting the comfort found in family rituals and cherished objects. It is a gentle, historical perspective on immigration that emphasizes that 'home' is something we carry with us. Parents will appreciate the slow, reassuring pace and the focus on the mother-child bond, making it an ideal choice for children aged 4 to 8 who need to see their own anxieties mirrored and soothed.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the emotional weight of immigration and the loss of the familiar. The approach is direct but very gentle and secular. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: it doesn't suggest that the old home isn't missed, but rather that the new home is now a safe space.
