About This Book
Reach for this book when your child expresses feelings of loneliness or jealousy at school, particularly when friend groups shift due to a new arrival. It is a gentle story about Kitty, a young girl who feels pushed to the sidelines when her best friends become captivated by a new classmate. Through the comforting presence of Frank, her family's tiny puppy who is small enough to fit in a pocket, Kitty finds the emotional support she needs to navigate her social hurt. This book is an ideal choice for elementary-aged readers who are beginning to experience the complexities of school-yard dynamics. It validates the sting of being left out while offering a hopeful path toward reconciliation. Parents will appreciate how the story uses the bond between a child and a pet to model self-soothing and empathy, ultimately showing that new friendships don't have to replace old ones.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. The book deals with common social friction in primary school but contains no distressing content or heavy mature themes.
Ideal Reader
A 7-year-old who has recently come home from school upset because their best friend played with someone else at recess.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. It serves as an excellent mirror for a child's own school experiences. A child saying, 'Nobody wants to play with me anymore,' or 'My friends like the new girl better than me.'
Age Experience
Younger readers (6-7) will focus on the 'cuteness' factor of the tiny puppy and the simple unfairness of being left out. Older readers (8-9) will better grasp the nuance of social dynamics and the bravery required to speak up and rejoin a group.
What Makes It Special
Holly Webb excels at using the animal-human bond as a bridge to solve human problems. Unlike many 'new girl' stories that cast the newcomer as a villain, this book treats the situation with empathy for all parties, focusing on Kitty's internal growth.
Read plot summary
Kitty is distressed when her two best friends, Maya and Sarah, begin spending all their time with a new student named Bella. Feeling replaced and lonely, Kitty retreats to the comfort of her home life and her new puppy, Frank. Frank is exceptionally small, a 'pocket dog,' and provides Kitty with a non-judgmental outlet for her feelings. The story follows Kitty as she navigates her jealousy and hurt, eventually learning how to integrate the new girl into their group without losing her own place.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think Kitty felt like there wasn't enough room for her once Bella joined the group?
2
How does talking to Frank help Kitty feel better even though Frank can't talk back?
3
If you were Maya or Sarah, what could you have done to make Kitty feel more included?
4
Kitty was worried about being 'the odd one out.' Have you ever felt that way at school or on the playground?
5
What changed at the end of the book to make everyone feel like friends again?
