My New Home

Focussing on a family of racoons moving house, the message in this story is that new situations may feel strange, scary and lonely for a while, but with a little time and patience they can feel exciting and fun.

Author: Marta Altés
Illustrator: Marta Altés
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

The little racoon in the story has just moved house and is feeling homesick and lonely. He misses his old home and friends. His dad explains that he’ll find new adventures soon enough…and he’s right! The children in his new town soon encourage him to join in and slowly he starts to feel at home.

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

The racoon feels scared and lonely at first. It’s easy to mistake other children’s curiosity for hostility; they all need time to get to know each other.
It is normal to miss distant friends, but exchanging letters makes them feel closer.

Guidance:

‘Adventures make loneliness disappear’. Once the ice is broken and the children start having fun together, the racoon forgets to be sad. Distraction works here.