“The Someone New”
By Jill Twiss, illustrated by E.G. Keller
Harper, New York, 2019, 32 pages, Grades K-2.
Each fall, children begin school throughout the country. It is both an exciting and frightening event. The comfortable world of home begins to change. Now, there may be school bus rides, unfamiliar people, and school work.
But the scariest thing for little children is meeting new people: Will I fit in? Will I have friends? Will people accept me? What is the best way to become friends with someone else? Jill Twiss has created an animal story to tell the best ways to make friends and find acceptance. Readers find the answers through the ways in which the animals meet and accept a stranger. The name of this delightful story is “The Someone New.”
Jitterbug, a chipmunk, wakes up and realizes that something is different. She can’t figure it out. The nuts carefully gathered throughout the summer are still on the proper shelves. But her stomach is anxious, so she goes into the forest to ask the other insects and animals what they think.
She first meets Toast, the beautiful butterfly. But Toast has not seen anything different that morning. Jitterbug then asks the otters and ducks if they have seen something different. She is puzzled when they tell her that nothing unusual has happened.
Suddenly, all the animals and insects look up and see something very different. A snail is lumbering up the path. They have never seen a snail and don’t know what it is. The snail introduces himself to the group by stating: “my name is Pudding.” To the surprise of everyone, he then tells them that his home was destroyed yesterday in the rain storm. Pudding asks to stay in their part of the forest.
Jitterbug is shocked. Why would Pudding want to stay in their forest? She wonders if there would be enough food for all the insects and animals if Pudding stayed. With this, she tells Pudding to leave their part of the forest and find a different home. He sadly turns and goes away.
The other insects and animals ask Jitterbug why she made Pudding feel so unwelcome that he left. They explain that they were once new as well and came to the forest to seek shelter. Just because Pudding looks different is no reason to drive him out. Jitterbug is surprised by their responses and then realizes that she has been selfish. She knows she needs to apologize for her behavior. Jitterbug quickly runs after Pudding to ask for forgiveness. Maybe she can change what has just occurred. What happens next?
Does Jitterbug find Pudding? Is Pudding so sad at the rejection that he won’t become friends with Jitterbug? What do the insects and animals do to make Pudding a member of the forest? Have you ever needed a friend? Who helped you? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this touching story, “The Someone New” by Jill Twiss.
This is a lovely story about friendship and acceptance. It could be helpful in reassuring young children as they begin their first semester of school. The artwork is refreshing and inviting. You can’t help but root for Pudding as he tries to find acceptance. This is a beautiful story to share with younger family members. I hope you get a chance to check it out at the library. It is very enjoyable.
