Families who loved Aldo Applesauce by Johanna Hurwitz often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels like their unique interests or habits make them an 'odd duck' in a new environment. Johanna Hurwitz captures the quiet anxiety of moving to a new town and the specific embarrassment of being labeled by a silly nickname. Aldo is a sensitive, vegetarian fourth-grader who must navigate the social hierarchy of a new school after his move from the city to the suburbs. It is an ideal choice for children ages 7 to 10 who are transitioning to a new school or who struggle with finding 'their people.' Through Aldo's journey, parents can help their children see that staying true to oneself is the surest path to finding genuine friendship, even if the road there feels a bit lonely at first.