About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts noticing differences in how other people live or expresses anxiety about an upcoming move between environments. It is a perfect choice for teaching empathy and the foundational concept that humans share universal needs and joys regardless of their surroundings. Through a parallel narrative, the story follows two children named Toby: one living in a rural farmhouse and one in a city apartment. While their settings look different, their emotional experiences are identical. They both love their pets, enjoy playing outdoors, and cherish family time. For children aged 3 to 7, this book provides a comforting sense of belonging and validates that while our 'where' might change, our 'who' remains the same. It is an excellent tool for expanding a child's worldview through a gentle, non-threatening comparison of urban and rural life.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
There are no sensitive topics or traumatic events. The approach is entirely secular and realistic, focusing on the sociological differences between urban and rural living with a hopeful, unifying resolution.
Ideal Reader
An inquisitive 4 or 5-year-old who is beginning to ask questions about other people's houses, or perhaps a child moving from a city to the country (or vice versa) who needs to see that their favorite activities will still exist in a new place.
